por
Brendon Nafziger, DOTmed News Associate Editor | October 31, 2011
Canadian nuclear regulatory authorities renewed Atomic Energy of Canada Limited's license to operate the National Universal Research reactor for another 5 years, ensuring the medical isotope-producing workhorse stays online through 2016.
AECL got Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission's permission last week to keep the Chalk River Laboratories site, which includes the NRU, running from Nov. 1 through Oct. 31, 2016. The previous 63-month license expires Monday, AECL said.
The safety commission said they made the decision to renew the license following two public hearings, one in June and one earlier this month.
Ad Statistics
Times Displayed: 16169
Times Visited: 33 Final days to save an extra 10% on Imaging, Ultrasound, and Biomed parts web prices.* Unlimited use now through September 30 with code AANIV10 (*certain restrictions apply)
The aging NRU, which has been operating in Chalk River, Ontario for nearly 54 years, produces five medical radioisotopes, and is one of the world's most important suppliers of molybdenum-99, the parent isotope of technetium-99m, used in nuclear medicine scans. In May 2009, after a heavy water leak was discovered, the NRU reactor was shut down for inspections and repairs until August 2010, triggering worldwide moly shortages.
