OPG to irradiate BWXT targets

摘要

The production of the medical radioisotope molybdenum-99 is to return to Canada through a collaborative agreement between Lynchburg, Va.-based BWX Technologies and Ontario Power Generation subsidiary Canadian Nuclear Partners (CNP). BWXT announced on June 20 that CNP plans to provide irradiation services to support BWXT's new Mo-99 manufacturing technology. BWXT said that it will begin negotiating a definitive agreement with CNP for the irradiation services. The irradiation of natural molybdenum targets for the production of Mo-99 will be provided in OPG's CANDU reactors located at the Darlington nuclear power plant near Clarington, Ontario. According to BWXT, the CANDU reactor's unique design and BWXT's patent-pending technology enables the insertion and removal of the targets into the reactors while in operation, ensuring OPG's ability to irradiate targets on a highly reliable basis. BWXT's process of using natural molybdenum targets in CANDU reactors, which use natural uranium as fuel, will allow for the production of Mo-99 without the proliferation concerns related to the use of low- or high-enriched uranium, BWXT said. Subject to required Canadian regulatory reviews and approvals, production of Mo-99 at Darlington is expected to start by the end of 2019.