The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) is expected to rule this week on whether Atomic Energy of Canada (AECL) can resume medical isotope production at its National Research Universal (NRU) reactor in Chalk River, Ontario.
AECL yesterday told the panel that the reactor, which supplies approximately half of North America's molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), has been successfully repaired. The facility has been offline since May 2009, when a major water leak was discovered. Repairs began last December and were recently completed and verified.
CNSC spokesperson Aurele Gervais told AuntMinnie.com that the commission heard testimony from AECL yesterday and is likely to issue a final decision within two days, perhaps as soon as Wednesday, July 7.
AECL has said that it could resume Mo-99 production by late July with CNSC's approval.
The panel also may issue a limited permit to AECL that would allow Mo-99 production for a certain number of days and an inspection in the near future to assess NRU's performance.
Related Reading
AECL plans for late July restart, July 2, 2010
AECL start-up hearing rescheduled, June 30, 2010
AECL proceeds with restart plans, June 28, 2010
AECL completes Chalk River repairs, June 17, 2010
AECL requests NRU restart hearing, June 14, 2010
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