We are still several years away from seeing small modular nuclear reactors, or SMRs, at Point Lepreau.

But NB Power says work is already happening behind the scenes to get the proper approvals in place.

Heather McKnight, an engineer with the utility, recently appeared before Saint Andrews council to provide an update.

McKnight said ARC Clean Technology and Moltex Energy are currently in the “pre-licensing phase” with the federal nuclear regulatory, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.

It is a voluntary but “very valuable” process, she said, which allows the companies to submit design and safety documents.

“They start looking at it quite early, so this is prior to any of the licensing phases that come much later,” said McKnight.

NB Power plans to submit what is known as a license to prepare site before the end of June, she said.

It is the “starting gun” for the project, said McKnight, and will run parallel with environmental assessment process.

“It basically covers clearing the ground, building a laydown area, maybe getting some temporary power and construction cuts. It’s literally just to prepare the site for construction, which occurs years down the road,” she said.

The process also includes a sustainability and well-being assessment which evaluates the potential positive and adverse effects on social, economic and human health conditions of SMRs.

McKnight said it involves engagement and collaboration with local community members in the area and with Indigenous communities across the province.

“Point Lepreau and New Brunswick are an advantageous site for nuclear because we have a solid operating experience. We’ve got the expertise, we’ve got all the regulatory experience going forward,” she said.

ARC Clean Technology plans to begin construction in 2027 and have its reactor online by 2031, according to McKnight. The timeline for Moltex Energy is about three years behind that.

The 100-megawatt reactor being developed by ARC will use sodium instead of water as a coolant while Moltex’s 300-megawatt reactor will use liquid salt.

Moltex is also developing technology to recycle used CANDU fuel at the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station.