06/04/2026
Very cool 😎 that NPD and Rolphton get a shout out today by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the 64th anniversary of electrical power being produced from a CANDU reactor. ⚛️⚡️💡
On this day electricity began flowing from the first ever CANDU reactor at the Nuclear Power Demonstration reactor (NPD) in Rolphton, Canada.
CANDU stands for Canadian (where it was invented) Deuterium-Uranium, a type of power reactor that uses heavy water as a coolant and moderator and natural uranium as fuel, which is unique as most reactors use enriched uranium dioxide. CANDU reactors have a comprehensive safety system that can be tested while the reactor is operating.
Today, CANDU reactors are used in many countries as a source of clean energy. Because of the reactor’s unique features, the IAEA set up a special regulators group programme to improve operational safety, enhance regulatory effectiveness and maintain the necessary knowledge.