Atomic Energy of Canada (AECL) says its nuclear reactor in Chalk River, Ontario, will not return to service before late 2009 after the most recent assessment of the reactor's condition and consideration of various repair options.
The National Research Universal (NRU) reactor, which supplies 50% of the medical isotope molybdenum-99 in the U.S., has been offline since May, when a heavy water leak was discovered. The lack of production has exacerbated an already short supply of medical isotopes worldwide.
AECL originally estimated in May that it might take three months to repair the 50-year-old facility. The agency has been working since then to determine the extent of the damage and how best to safely repair the reactor.
In a written statement, AECL president and CEO Hugh MacDiarmid said returning the reactor to service to support the production of medical isotopes "for Canadian patients and healthcare practitioners is our primary objective. We have a dedicated team working around the clock to bring the NRU back to operation as quickly and as safely as possible. However, it is a complex task with many variables."
He added that AECL has identified three phases to that service plan. Currently, workers are nearing the end of phase 1, which involves an assessment of the reactor's condition and the development and testing of several repair options. This work will help decide a repair strategy for phase 2. A decision on the repair method is expected in the next few weeks.
Phase 3 would include restarting and testing the reactor, which could take an additional two months, based on AECL's previous experience of refilling, refueling, and start-up of the reactor in 1992.
In response to the new timetable, MDS Nordion of Ottawa again urged the Canadian government and AECL to complete the Maple project to address the global shortage of medical isotopes.
The company cited plans for the scheduled four-week, mid-July shutdown of the Petten nuclear reactor in the Netherlands for repairs as a looming development that will worsen the supply issue. Petten currently produces approximately 30% of the world supply of medical isotopes and is expected to go offline again in early 2010 to repair a leak.
MDS Nordion said it is critical that the Canadian government direct AECL to honor what it says is a commitment to replace the Chalk River reactor by bringing the Maple facilities into service. The Maple reactors were originally intended to replace the NRU reactor, and were the subject of a contract signed between MDS and AECL in 1996.
The reactors were scheduled to be operational in 2000, with the $145 million cost paid by MDS, but the government of Canada and AECL canceled the project last year as the facilities were not operating according to specifications. The two sides are currently involved in litigation over the project.
By Wayne Forrest
AuntMinnie.com staff writer
July 9, 2009
Related Reading
Canada still unsure on isotope reactor repair plan, June 26, 2009
Canada may open isotope project to private sector, June 19, 2009
Canada wants Chalk River online ASAP, June 19, 2009
Canada cites dangers in abandoned isotope reactors as major reactor remains down, June 16, 2009
MDS urges Canada to restart Maple reactor project, June 12, 2009
Copyright © 2009 AuntMinnie.com
