M.V. Ramana and Susan O’Donnell

M.V. Ramana is the Simons Chair in Disarmament, Global and Human Security and professor at the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, University of British Columbia, and the author of The Power of Promise: Examining Nuclear Energy in India. Susan O'Donnell is the primary investigator of the RAVEN project at the University of New Brunswick, a member of the Coalition for Responsible Energy Development in New Brunswick, and an adjunct research professor in the Environment and Society program at St. Thomas University.

Big costs sink flagship nuclear project and will sink future small modular reactor projects, too

Adverse economics killed the flagship NuScale SMR project. There is no reason to believe the costs of SMR designs proposed in Canada will be any lower. Are government officials hearing the alarm bells?

opinion | BY M.V. RAMANA AND SUSAN O’DONNELL | November 23, 2023

Wishful thinking about nuclear energy won’t get us to net zero

The climate problem is too serious to engage in unrealistic modelling exercises. Wishful thinking about nuclear energy will only thwart our ability to act meaningfully to lower emissions rapidly.

opinion | BY M.V. RAMANA AND SUSAN O’DONNELL | July 3, 2023

Plutonium is plutonium, period, and separating it increases nuclear proliferation risks

Canada’s support for the nuclear industry’s plan to extract plutonium from spent nuclear fuel and export the technology will create a new global security risk and raise legitimate questions about our government’s desire to be a leader in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, write M.V. Ramana and Susan O’Donnell.

Will expanding Canada’s plutonium interests support the peaceful use of nuclear energy?

Small modular reactors are not going to solve these problems. On the contrary, adding plutonium separation to the Canadian nuclear industry’s repertoire will create a new global security risk and raise legitimate questions about Canada’s stated goal to be a leader in the peaceful use of nuclear energy.