OSGE Partners with Canada’s Former Top Nuclear Regulator

OSGE announces Rumina Velshi – former President and CEO of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission – has joined as a Senior Advisor to the CEO and Board as the company works to deploy and operate a fleet of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in Europe.

Velshi will provide strategic scientific and technical advice and support concerning the deployment of GE-Hitachi BWRX-300 Small Modular Reactors in Poland and Europe, especially in the United Kingdom, where the government decided to support BWRX-300 licensing process. This includes strengthening strategic partnerships with Canadian businesses and the Canadian nuclear supply chain; forging close relationships with the International Atomic Energy Agency on safety, security, and safeguards. The former President of the CNSC will also support enhancing regulatory dialogue and nuclear cooperation frameworks.

“Canada is a long-time friend of Poland, an important trading partner, and trusted NATO ally. I am excited to be able to assist the management team and board of ORLEN Synthos Green Energy as they seek to deploy SMRs in Poland and Europe. Not only will this help Poland meet and even exceed greenhouse gas emissions targets but it will also promote European energy security”, said Rumina Velshi.

OSGE is strongly cooperating with Canadian Ontario Power Generation (OPG) – one of the largest energy utility companies in Canada, and will deploy the first BWRX-300 SMR in the world. OPG and OSGE plans to deploy the same SMR technology have been noticed by nuclear regulators from Poland and Canada. In February 2023 Poland’s National Atomic Energy Agency and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission signed an agreement extending the existing regulatory cooperation. The signed memorandum concerns joint activities in the field of small modular reactors, such as the BWRX-300.

 “Rumina Velshi has more than 40 years of expertise as a nuclear engineer. During her tenure as President and CEO of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, she put Canada on the map as a world leader in nuclear safety and regulatory excellence. We are delighted to be able to partner with Rumina, and benefit from her deep technical and safety expertise, and global and Canadian experience. The future is bright for nuclear cooperation between Poland and Europe and Canada”, said Rafał Kasprów – CEO, ORLEN Synthos Green Energy.

OSGE plans to build a fleet of the GE-Hitachi BWRX-300 SMRs in Poland, with the first unit ready before the end of the decade. In May 2023, the company received a positive general opinion – a non-mandatory prelicensing instrument – from the President of the National Atomic Energy Agency (PAA) on technical aspects of the BWRX-300 technology. In December 2023, Poland’s Ministry of Climate and Environment issued decisions-in-principle for the construction of power plants based on GE-Hitachi  BWRX-300 at six locations. A total of 24 BWRX-300 reactors are allowed at the sites. It is the first decision in the process of administrative permits for investments in nuclear power plant in Poland that an investor may apply for.