Atomic Energy of Canada (AECL) on June 11 requested a formal hearing before the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission to restart medical isotope production at its National Research Universal (NRU) nuclear reactor in Chalk River, Ontario.
According to a CTV report, the commission plans to schedule a hearing quickly and treat AECL as a priority case, given that the facility provides approximately half of the medical isotope molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) supply to North America.
Chalk River has been offline since May 2009 when a major water leak was discovered. The reactor has undergone repairs since December 2009. According to AECL, the repairs are 98% complete.
If the commission approves AECL's request, the reactor could begin producing Mo-99 by the end of July. AECL estimates that it will take 10 days after restart before the medical isotope will be ready for distribution.
In a prepared statement, AECL wrote that "returning the NRU to service as safely and as quickly as possible to support the production of medical isotopes for Canadian patients and healthcare practitioners is a priority, and the Commission is aware of the importance of the NRU facility to Canadians and nuclear medicine patients around the globe."
Related Reading
AECL's NRU repairs at 98%, June 11, 2010
SNM: 1 year later, Mo-99 shortage 'a lot worse,' June 8, 2010
AECL progresses with NRU repairs, June 3, 2010
Union criticizes AECL layoffs, June 1, 2010
AECL: Repairs to NRU reactor on schedule, May 7, 2010
Copyright © 2010 AuntMinnie.com
