CANDU Energy System Design and Safety - a Status Review

The CANDU nuclear-electric generating system, developed in Canada beginning in about 1950, has reached full maturity with 22 units operating in other countries, and 13 units under construction, as shown in Table 1. Production and economic performance of modern CANDU units is competitive with other nuclear generating stations in the world. The safety record of these plants is excellent; their level of safety protection against severe accidents is at least equal to that of other commercial designs.