Canada is building the West's first underground modular nuclear reactor
Construction has begun in the Canadian province of Ontario on the BWRX-300, the first small modular nuclear reactor of its kind in the Western world. The 300 MW reactor is being built at the Darlington site and is scheduled to come online in 2030. It will be the first of four similar power units planned for this site.
A key feature of the project is its compact design and a passive cooling system that relies on natural water circulation without the use of electric pumps. The reactor will also be located below ground level, which is expected to enhance safety.
The total cost of the four reactors is estimated at nearly 21 billion Canadian dollars. Once construction is complete, they are expected to provide electricity to approximately 1.2 million households. Ontario authorities view the project as an important step toward developing carbon-free energy and strengthening energy independence.
The project is being closely monitored in the U.S. and European countries, which are also considering the possibility of building such reactors. The success or failure of the Canadian project could significantly influence the future of small modular reactors worldwide.
Source: Autonotion.
The Canadian government is discussing with Ukraine the possibility of sending some of the firearms it has banned from use to help deter Russia on the battlefield.
The House of Commons of the Canadian Parliament approved the allocation of 764 million Canadian dollars (approximately 587 million U.S. dollars) in military aid to Ukraine. It also approved the allocation of financial assistance and funds for humanitarian demining.
