The Canwest News Service in Canada is reporting that radioactive water continues to leak from the Chalk River, Ontario, nuclear reactor that produces more than half the world's medical isotopes.
The report also quotes technicians at the facility who are unsure whether the reactor, one of the largest suppliers of medical isotopes, may ever operate again.
Two engineers with ties to the Chalk River facility commented that the repairs may take as long as eight months to complete, adding that there is the possibility that the reactor may never operate again.
Atomic Energy of Canada (AECL) shut down the nuclear reactor on May 14 after a power outage in parts of eastern Ontario and western Quebec. AECL has estimated that the reactor would be out of service for more than a month for repairs.
The report cites AECL spokesman Dale Coffin as saying that the timeline is optimistic, reiterating that the reactor will be offline for more than a month.
Related Reading
AECL shuts down reactor again, May 19, 2009
Chalk River reactor has minor leak, February 26, 2009
Chalk River back online, February 18, 2009
Chalk River closes again temporarily, February 17, 2009
Report: Canada's isotope supply 'fragile,' January 29, 2009
Copyright © 2009 AuntMinnie.com
