Hitachi and Saskatchewan deepen relationship with $10 million CAD R&D Agreement for nuclear medicine technology

Tokyo-based Hitachi Ltd. and the Government of Saskatchewan announced yesterday that they have signed an MOU regarding joint research and development (R&D) of nuclear medicine technology. Saskatchewan has also signed an MOU with Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy, Ltd., GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC (GEH), and Global Nuclear Fuel -- Americas, LLC (GNF-A) to discuss the potential of working together on future nuclear R&D projects of mutual interest including nuclear safety, uranium recovery and design of small modular reactor technologies.

Hitachi and Saskatchewan have an impressive 40-year history of successful collaboration in the power generation field, including work on coal, natural gas and wind generation technologies. In 1988, Hitachi established Hitachi Canadian Industries Ltd. in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan as a manufacturing base for power generation equipment, deepening its relationship with SaskPower and the province. In February 2010, SaskPower and Hitachi agreed to collaborate on the advancement and implementation of technology in the fields of low-carbon energy technologies, including Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS). Hitachi is also providing an innovative, first-of-its-kind turbine and generator for SaskPower's world leading Boundary Dam Integrated CCS project. In May 2010, Saskatchewan and Hitachi reached a landmark agreement with the signing of a joint declaration to work together and share information for developing energy and environmental technologies, including CCS for thermal power plants, renewable energy and smart grid technologies.

With today's announcement, Saskatchewan and Hitachi have deepened the cooperation further by R&D into nuclear medicine technology.

Eighteen CANDU (Canada Deuterium Uranium) reactors are currently in operation in Canada, delivering about 15% of the country's overall generating capacity. Canada is the world's largest producer of uranium. All of Canada's uranium is produced in Saskatchewan largely by Saskatoon-based uranium giant Cameco Corporation.

Saskatchewan, Hitachi-GE, GEH, and GNF-A plan to collaborate on potential nuclear R&D projects of mutual interest including design and feasibility of small modular reactors technologies and reclamation of unused uranium fuel from new fuel rods that have been rejected for use in reactors as a result of quality control programs.

Source (in part): Hitachi Press Release dated August 25, 2011