Oakville, Ontario, Canada – August 31, 2022 –Terrestrial Energy has completed an evaluation of its Integral Molten Salt Reactor’s (IMSR) nuclear material safeguards in collaboration with the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) with support from CNL’s Canadian Nuclear Research Initiative (CNRI).
“Safeguards” is an international regulatory framework administered in Canada by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) and is verified by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) under international treaty arrangements. Safeguards ensures the security and control of nuclear materials and follows CNSC regulatory requirements for tracking and accounting for nuclear materials.
The Company’s work with CNL consisted of computational assessments and experimental demonstrations, including calculations of Material Unaccounted For (MUF), and uncertainties for the IMSR fuel through its full plant life-cycle. Timeliness of detection for various diversion scenarios was also assessed, as well as a near real-time accountancy (NRTA) method for bulk fuel salt material accounting. These assessments demonstrated that these techniques can be employed to support the IAEA safeguards requirements for nuclear material accountancy. This project is part of the company’s ongoing interactions with the IAEA and CNSC on Safeguards.
“CNL is well-positioned to help advance next-generation nuclear technologies in Canada,” commented Dr. Jeff Griffin, CNL’s Vice-President of Science and Technology. “Working in partnership with Terrestrial Energy, we have advanced the nuclear safeguards methodology for the company’s Integral Molten Salt Reactor design. As part of this work, CNL proposed a safeguards approach for the IMSR, which CNL evaluated for its effectiveness in meeting IAEA safeguards goals. This evaluation yielded results that will be used by Terrestrial Energy in its ongoing engagements with the CNSC and the IAEA.”
“This safeguards work with CNL makes an important contribution to the IMSR cogeneration plant design and supports licensing for future plant operations,” said Simon Irish, CEO of Terrestrial Energy. “Completing this safeguards work in collaboration with CNL is part of the Company’s broader program to demonstrate that nuclear materials can be tracked effectively and used securely during operations of the IMSR plant, a task that is essential for the commercialization of nuclear technology.”
The CNRI was launched in 2019 to support the deployment and to advance the commercialization of SMRs, as envisioned in Canada’s SMR Roadmap by using facilities and expertise within Canada’s national nuclear laboratories.
About Terrestrial Energy
Terrestrial Energy is developing for near-term commercial operation a zero-emissions cogeneration plant for global industry using its proprietary Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR) fission technology in an innovative, small and modular plant design. The IMSR is a non-Light Water Reactor of the Generation IV class that operates at the high temperature required for broad industrial relevance with transformative economic potential. The IMSR plant is capable of grid-based electric power generation and industrial cogeneration in many energy-intensive industries, including petrochemical and chemical synthesis for hydrogen and ammonia production. The IMSR plant offers a near 50 percent improvement in efficiency of electric power generation compared to Light Water Reactor nuclear plants. Its industrial cogeneration capability delivers to today’s markets industrial competitiveness, security of energy, and zero-emissions industrial production. The IMSR plant’s use of existing industrial materials, components, and fuels supports its near-term deployment, setting the stage for a rapid global decarbonization of the primary energy system.
