CNL President & CEO, Jack Craig, voices optimism for future of Canada’s national nuclear laboratories following a strong year of growth across its program of work
Chalk River, ON – January 23, 2025 – Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), Canada’s premier nuclear science and technology organization, is pleased to announce that it has realized significant progress in 2024 across its broad program of work. This includes major accomplishments in its strategic priorities of clean energy, environmental and health sciences, as well as community and indigenous engagement, and occupational health and safety. In looking back on the year, CNL’s President & CEO, Jack Craig, describes it as one of immense progress that yielded important advances in the company’s research missions, the pursuit of more sustainable operations, and relationship building with its many partners and contributors.
“As we enter the final year of our 10-year Government-owned, Contractor-operated (GoCo) contract, it is worth looking back at how far we’ve come this past decade and, in particular, everything we accomplished this last calendar year,” commented Craig. “2024 will go down as an incredibly productive year for CNL, whether it is enabling further research into Actinium-225, a promising new medical isotope in the fight against cancer; advancing nuclear fission, fusion and hydrogen technologies to address climate change; or, cleaning up Canada’s historic nuclear waste for future generations. This is in addition to significant strides in building relationships with local communities, including Indigenous communities, enacting internal improvements in safety, training and compliance, and continuing the renewal of the Chalk River Laboratories campus.”
Some CNL accomplishments from 2024 include:
- CNL successfully demonstrated the full production cycle for the promising radioisotope Actinium-225. This work includes the successful target design, fabrication, irradiation, processing, and final shipment of the product. Overall, the project team has demonstrated that the technology platform is sound, the logistics are manageable, and that the Actinium-225 production goals are achievable. This increased supply will enable more research and trials, helping bring this breakthrough cancer fighting radioisotope further towards broad patient use.
- CNL launched the New Nuclear & Emerging Technologies (N2ET) program to consolidate its existing clean energy and health sciences projects into one program, which is designed to fast track technologies towards commercialization and deployment. Under N2ET, CNL:
- Expanded its Canadian Nuclear Research Initiative (CNRI) program to include other forms of clean energy, including a larger focus on fusion-based research
- Worked in partnership with Canadian companies to advance technologies which capture harmful carbon dioxide emissions, and convert them into clean fuels
- Announced the formation of Fusion Fuel Cycles Inc., a joint venture with Kyoto Fusioneering that aims to tackle the challenges of the fuel cycle for fusion reactor technologies
- CNL has successfully completed over 100 Federal Nuclear Science and Technology Work Plan projects dedicated to advanced reactor, small modular reactor, and micro modular reactor deployment in Canada and internationally.
- Substantial progress on decommissioning work was made in support of the clean-up and modernization of CNL’s Chalk River campus, with over 2.5 million kilograms of waste removed.
- CNL received a renewed licence for the Whiteshell Laboratories Restoration Project (WLRP) from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) for a three-year period, allowing CNL to continue decommissioning and environmental remediation activities at the site.
- The draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for CNL’s Nuclear Power Demonstration (NPD) Closure Project passed the CNSC’s completeness check and entered the technical review stage, a major milestone in the environmental assessment process.
- CNL was granted authorization by the CNSC to construct a near surface disposal facility (NSDF) on the Chalk River site. This proposed facility will enable the safe disposal of low-level radioactive waste, ensuring these materials are isolated from the environment.
- CNL has successfully packaged and shipped two large activity Cesium-137 sources from the Whiteshell Laboratories (WL) site to the Chalk River Laboratories campus for long-term storage. The removal of these sources represents a significant reduction to the WL site’s liability.
- Construction of the Advanced Nuclear Materials Research Centre (ANMRC) continued this year, including significant progress in the foundation work for the shielded facilities in the north section. In the south section, steel and mass timber framing is completed, and work is advancing on the interior laboratory and collaborative spaces.
- CNL signed an agreement with Natural Resources Canada to provide research to support small modular reactor (SMR) technology as a clean energy option to replace fossil-fuels. Specifically, this work is undertaking cutting edge research into SMR waste streams. Work under this agreement will help build in-house capabilities while supporting both industry and Canada’s broader goals for decarbonisation and economic development.
- CNL continued to provide important commercial services to electric utilities operating domestically and abroad, including supporting efforts with CANDU reactors internationally. For more than 70 years, CNL has provided essential ‘cradle to grave’ commercial services to enable the continued safe operation of nuclear reactors on behalf of our electric utility customers, and facilitating reinvestment into the facilities and technologies deployed at Chalk River.
- Chalk River’s Decommissioning and Environmental Remediation team safely removed all waste (just under 10,300 kilograms) from the historic “Bowser Room,” a formerly high-radiation area once used for reactor water filtration, in one of CNL’s legacy fuel storage facilities.
- CNL continues to build meaningful relationships with Indigenous Peoples, with 39 individual agreements now signed with Indigenous nations, organizations, and communities across the country. This includes a new multi-year Collaboration and Relationship Agreement with Smith’s Landing First Nation that will enable environmental cleanup activities as part of the Northern Transportation Route project.
- Progress continued on work for the Port Hope Area Initiative (PHAI), including the successful remediation of over 100 private properties, the Lions Park and Chemetron Lagoon industrial sites, and the Water Works West sites, as well as the completion of bulk dredging of the Port Hope Harbour.
- CNL signed agreements with both the University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan, welcoming two more participants into its Academic Partnership Program, which was launched to cultivate closer relationships with Canada’s academic community.
- With money provided by CNL’s parent company, the Canadian National Energy Alliance (CNEA), CNL employees donated over $185,000 to much-needed community causes. This is in addition to nearly $100,000 raised through CNL’s annual 2024 United Way campaign, generously donated by staff from across the company.
“All of the credit for these accomplishments goes to CNL employees, who continue to demonstrate their unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, safety and collaboration,” added Craig. “We have a clear mission for the years ahead, and I am confident the organization is well-positioned to build on these achievements, pursuing a bright and sustainable future for Canadians.”
To learn more about CNL, including its missions, projects, and programs, please visit www.cnl.ca.
About CNL
As Canada’s premier nuclear science and technology laboratory and working under the direction of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), CNL is a world leader in the development of innovative nuclear science and technology products and services. Guided by an ambitious corporate strategy known as Vision 2030, CNL fulfills three strategic priorities of national importance – restoring and protecting the environment, advancing clean energy technologies, and contributing to the health of Canadians.
By leveraging the assets owned by AECL, CNL also serves as the nexus between government, the nuclear industry, the broader private sector, and the academic community. CNL works in collaboration with these sectors to advance innovative Canadian products and services towards real-world use, including carbon-free energy, cancer treatments and other therapies, non-proliferation technologies and waste management solutions.
To learn more about CNL, please visit www.cnl.ca.
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CNL Contact:
Philip Kompass
Director, Corporate Communications
1-866-886-2325
