Prevention and Safety

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) regulates the nuclear sector in Canada. It applies an approval regime that requires applicants and licencees to prove that their activities are in compliance with nuclear safety standards as well as legislative and regulatory requirements.

The objective of the nuclear safety process is to protect workers, the public and the environment from radiological risk in the case of human error or technical failure.

Risk prevention is based on the three-pronged "defence in depth" philosophy: prevent failures, limit their extent when they do occur and limit any potential consequences.

Gentilly-2 generating station also has several automated safety systems. These include two independent emergency reactor shutdown systems and an emergency reactor core cooling system. In addition, its reactor contains a heavy water neutron moderator.

Each year, Hydro-Québec spends several million dollars maintaining and servicing Gentilly-2 generating station and the other facilities on the site. In 2009, on top of current expenses for this work, the company invested $10.8 million in projects and draft designs to ensure long-term operability.

Finally, under an agreement with the Ministère de la Sécurité publique du Québec, Hydro-Québec is contributing to the planning and organization of the Plan des mesures d’urgence nucléaire externe de la centrale de Gentilly-2 (PMUNE-G2; Gentilly-2 external nuclear emergency response plan). Hydro-Québec is also helping train PMUNE-G2 external responders.