GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy announced that it will conduct a webinar for Canadian suppliers interested in providing material, equipment and services in support of the possible construction of its BWRX-300 small modular reactor in Canada.

The webinar, scheduled for 28 April, will be conducted in cooperation with the Organisation of Canadian Nuclear Industries (OCNI).

GEH said the webinar will enable OCNI member companies including suppliers, manufacturers and contractors to learn more about the BWRX-300 and steps the company is taking to pursue licensing of the reactor technology in Canada.

GEH recently made its first submittal to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission for the vendor design review of the BWRX-300. The submittals addressed eight of 19 focus areas including general plant description, control system and facilities, research and development and design process.

The BWRX-300 is a 300-MW water-cooled, natural circulation SMR with passive safety systems that uses elements of the design and licensing of GEH’s Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR), which has already been licensed by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The BWRX-300 will use elements of the existing ESBWR design certification, proven nuclear fuel designs, proven components and supply chains. GEH believes this can make the plant cost-competitive with power generation from combined cycle gas plants and renewable energy platforms.