The Canadian government's attempt to sell Atomic Energy of Canada (AECL) for more than a year lost a potential buyer last week.
According to a January 14 report in The Globe and Mail, Bruce Power of Kincardine, Ontario, decided not to pursue a possible purchase. The move leaves SNC-Lavalin Group of Montreal as the sole potential buyer.
The Globe and Mail quoted one source as saying Bruce Power's shareholders did not want to take on the financial risks associated with AECL ownership. Bruce Power is owned in part by TransCanada and Cameco.
AECL's National Research Universal (NRU) reactor in Chalk River, Ontario, drew worldwide attention in May 2009 after a major water leak shut down production of molybdenum-99.
The closure contributed to a major shortage of the medical isotope, especially in North America, until NRU returned to service 16 months later in August 2010.
Related Reading
AECL's NRU resumes operation, September 2, 2010
AECL continues NRU maintenance, August 24, 2010
AECL produces first Mo-99 batch, August 20, 2010
AECL producing Mo-99 again, August 18, 2010
AECL's NRU could restart next week, August 13, 2010
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