Prototype reactor confirmed the commercial viability of Canada’s CANDU technology

Tiverton, 2006 September 27 — The Douglas Point Nuclear Generating Station near Tiverton, Ontario has been recognized by the Ontario Heritage Trust with a provincial plaque for its contribution to the development of commercial scale CANDU reactors.

The Douglas Point Nuclear Generating Station, a joint project between Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) and then-Ontario Hydro, now Ontario Power Generation, has a rich history as the birthplace of industrial scale nuclear power in Canada. The research and development that took place at Douglas Point was the launching pad for the commercial application of the CANDU system, in addition to many other Canadian nuclear projects.

“As Canada’s first commercial-scale CANDU reactor, Douglas Point paved the way for countless innovations that have made Canada’s CANDU technology one of the leading nuclear generating systems in the world today,” said AECL President and CEO Robert Van Adel. “We are all very proud to see this contribution recognized by the Ontario Heritage Trust.”

The Douglas Point facility began generating electricity in 1967 and continued until 1984. Its predecessor, the Nuclear Power Demonstration (NPD) reactor in Rolphton, Ontario, proved the CANDU concept in 1962 while the 200-megawatt Douglas Point plant, 10 times larger than the NPD, demonstrated that a CANDU nuclear power plant could be scaled up for commercial power generation.

The advances made at Douglas Point provided the province with a growing and reliable energy supply and contributed to the success of larger CANDU plants in Canada and abroad. AECL’s CANDU 6 reactors are now operated in five countries around the world, all of which are based on the CANDU design for which Douglas Point was the prototype - and all have consistently achieved outstanding performance track records.

About AECL

Atomic Energy of Canada Limited is a full service nuclear technology company providing services to nuclear utilities around the world. Established in 1952, AECL is the designer and builder of CANDU technology including the CANDU 6, one of the world's top performing reactors.

AECL specializes in a range of advanced nuclear energy products and services that are an important component of clean-air energy programs on four continents. AECL's 4,000 employees provide R&D support, design and engineering, construction management, specialized technology, refurbishment, waste management and decommissioning in support of CANDU reactor products. More information on AECL and CANDU technology can be found at www.aecl.ca.

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CONTACT:

Dale Coffin
Director, Corporate Communications
Direct: 905-403-7457
Media: 905-403-7539
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E-Mail: coffind@aecl.ca