The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) and the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) have selected Terrestrial Energy’s Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR) for the first joint technical review of an advanced, non-light water nuclear reactor technology.
The announcement follows an August 2019 Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) between the CNSC and the NRC on activities associated with advanced reactor and SMR technologies. The MOC’s collaborative technical reviews are intended to increase regulatory effectiveness as well as reaffirm the regulators' commitment to safety and security.
Terrestrial Energy’s IMSR is an advanced reactor with a power output of 195MWe. It is currently the subject of regulatory engagement in both Canada and the USA.
IMSR submissions to the CNSC for Phase 2 of the Vendor Design Review (VDR) began in December 2018 and it is the only advanced reactor in Phase 2 of that process.
Since February 2019, the IMSR has been the subject of NRC pre-licensing activities supported by grant funding from the US Department of Energy (DOE).
Simon Irish, the CEO of Terrestrial Energy, said: “We look forward to participating in joint CNSC and NRC reviews of IMSR advanced reactor technology and to supporting the goals set by the agencies in the August Memorandum of Corporation.”
