TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 07/08/12 -- The Canadian nuclear industry's future is threatened, as a full strike involving engineers, scientists and technologists will almost certainly guarantee the loss of technical talent. "Our senior engineers, who have years of experience and expertise are choosing to leave Candu Energy," said Peter White President of the Society of Professional Engineers and Associates (SPEA). "This will have dire consequences for Canada's nuclear industry."
The design and full service capabilities in Candu Energy could erode rapidly, and key knowledge and skills will be scattered. This cannot be good news for major CANDU supplied utilities like Ontario Power Generation (OPG), Bruce Power and Point Lepreau, which continue to rely on CANDUs to supply electricity for the foreseeable future.
Major CANDU refurbishment such as Darlington and international work in Argentina, China and Romania will be directly affected, as will the 30,000 supply chain jobs.
About SPEA
The Society of Professional Engineers and Associates (SPEA) represents engineers, scientists, technologists and tradespeople who collectively represent the majority of Canada's nuclear power design expertise employed by Candu Energy Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of SNC-Lavalin. The Federal Government sold off the commercial business of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) to SNC-Lavalin, in a deal that closed October 2011.
Contacts:
Society of Professional Engineers and Associates (SPEA)
Michelle Duncan
SPEA External Relations
(416) 427-3525 (cellular)
duncanm@spea.ca