Name and Location
Safe Low-Power Kritical Experiment (Slowpoke) research reactor decommissioning project, Alberta, Canada.     

Client
University of Alberta.

Project Description
The Slowpoke reactor is one of four in Canada. It is a 20 kWt sealed-container in-pool type reactor, fuelled with less than 1 kg of highly enriched uranium.

The reactor is used as a source of neutrons for radionuclide production, neutron activation analysis, research and teaching. The facility has gamma spectrometers to analyse radioactive materials from many different sources.

The project involves the decommissioning of the reactor, as the facility has become redundant, owing to there being new tools that can do what Slowpoke does.

Value
Not stated.

Duration
Work on the project began in early 2016, and is expected to end in late 2017.

Latest Developments
Candu Energy, a subsidiary of SNC-Lavalin, has been awarded a multimillion-dollar contract by the University of Alberta for the decommissioning of its Slowpoke research reactor.

SNC-Lavalin will perform and manage the decommissioning work, including waste management. Along with providing the required tooling, equipment and training for this work, SNC-Lavalin will also deliver project, training, and support documentation.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
SNC-Lavalin (decommissioning contract).

On Budget and on Time?
Too early to state.

Contact Details for Project Information
SNC-Lavalin, tel +1 514 393 1000 or fax +1 514 866 0795.