Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt announced Thursday that investors will be given the opportunity to submit proposals for the commercial division of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited.
It's a move the government is billing as "the next step in restructuring" the Crown corporation.
"Nuclear energy is an emission-free source of power that is experiencing a renaissance around the world," Raitt said in a statement released Thursday, which invited investors to submit proposals.
"AECL's CANDU Reactor Division needs strategic investors to take full advantage of this opportunity, strengthen its global presence and reduce the financial risks carried by taxpayers."
In response to an inquiry from CTV.ca, Natural Resources Canada said that "the Government is open to a range of options for up to, and including one hundred percent" ownership by investors, depending on the proposals that are submitted.
"The Government will continue its role in maintaining safety, security and environmental stewardship as they relate to nuclear energy," the government department said.
There are three basic business lines that make up the CANDU Reactor Division -- new-build projects, life-extension or refurbishment projects, and general services. Together, this division employs approximately 1,800 full-time staff members.
Thirty-two CANDU reactors are currently in operation worldwide, including 20 in Canada, according to government figures. The others are located in Pakistan, Argentina, Romania, South Korea, China and India.
According to a government media release, any successful proposal for the CANDU Reactor Division will be expected to meet several objectives: The government needs to control costs while maximizing the return on investment to taxpayers, and to keep the Canadian nuclear industry in a position of strength.
Ottawa also wants to see a proposal that will ensure that "Canadians have nuclear (power) as a safe, reliable, and economic clean energy option."
"This industry employs 30,000 highly skilled Canadians, and our Government is committed to making sure these jobs are retained and more are created," Raitt said.
"The Government of Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, will continue its role in maintaining the safety, security and environmental stewardship of the nuclear industry."
Any incoming proposals for the CANDU Reactor Division will not affect AECL's Research and Technology Division, which includes the Chalk River Laboratories, as the government is not seeking proposals for that part of the Crown corporation.
At present, the Research and Technology Division is working to get the National Research Universal (NRU) reactor in Chalk River, Ont., up and running as quickly as possible.
The NRU reactor, which is not part of the proposed sale, previously supplied about one-third of the world's medical isotopes. However, a radioactive water leak caused it to be shut down for repairs in mid-May. It is not expected to be up and running again until the first quarter of 2010.
According to a government backgrounder, the restructuring of AECL began in November 2007, when the Minister of Natural Resources announced a review of AECL to determine if it needed restructuring.
That review was completed in May 2009, when it was decided that AECL would be restructured.
