MDS Nordion continues to urge the government of Canada and Atomic Energy of Canada (AECL) to complete the Maple project to address the global shortage of medical isotopes.
AECL said earlier today that the 52-year-old National Research Universal (NRU) reactor at Chalk River, Ontario, will not return to service before late 2009. In addition, the Petten reactor in the Netherlands is scheduled to be shut down mid-July for approximately four weeks for scheduled maintenance and is also expected to be taken offline again in early 2010 to repair a leak, according to MDS of Ottawa.
To address the critical medical isotope shortage, MDS said it's critical that the Canadian government direct AECL to honor its long-standing commitment to replace the NRU by bringing the Maple facilities into service. President Steve West said that a number of organizations and scientific experts believe that the Maple reactors are safe, that they work, and that any technical challenges can be overcome to bring them into service.
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
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