Reactor expected to produce isotopes again in a week

[CHIMO]

Source: THE CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA – Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., is restarting its research reactor at Chalk River, Ont., and expected to be producing vital medical isotopes again within seven or eight days.

The announcement came Thursday after all federal parties rushed through emergency legislation to bypass a shutdown order from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.

The MPs wanted to get the reactor working again as quickly as possible.

The reactor produces radioactive substances used in about 25 million medical diagnoses and treatments around the world each year.



Read more: http://www.thestar.com/News/article/285359

[Lisa]

1. cross fingers ... I just hope nothing happens to that single pump! (n/t)

[CHIMO]

2. Well

There is more than one pump. But one pump only has two backups.

The politics are getting messy. But people obviously don't want to be placed in the situation of considering risk and consequences.

Amazed that nobody else in the world realizes that 50% of their radioactive medical sources have disappeared for a month. Guess that it doesn't matter if one has money and a secure supply of oil.

[Lisa]

3. okay, thanks ... guess I misunderstood ...

There was a thing on the National last night, about the recommendation for having an extra backup in place, in case an earthquake or other disruption knocked out the main pumps. The simplified diagram just showed the one system.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/12/13/chalk-river-reactor.html


Anyway, it does seem like the system for supplying those vital short-lived isotopes hadn't been looked at in terms of resilience, at least not for some time. We should consider this a wake-up call. I recall that McMaster Medical Centre was making some of its own (using the reactor on campus), but I suppose that the demand in Canada alone has increased so much that it just wouldn't be possible for the other reactors to supply the range of isotopes required, in those amounts, for this country let alone other locations.

And there could be significant issues down the line, if a government is allowed to override safety recommendations ... I just hope that this doesn't become a routine thing.

[CHIMO]

4. As It Happens

Had someone on from AECL and the also from the regulator tonight. I think it was on the second part.

There are three pumps and one of the pumps only had two backups.

What is normal in theses cases is that safety takes number one priority. Then the most severe cases are dealt with first. In the end there is only so much money.

So I would be looking at the funding that has been allocated to maintenance and upgrading to see what has happened. The government seems intent on selling out to GE. So the best way is to empty the bathtub.

As for the extra supply required, I don't know if that was one of their concerns as another company has the marketing rights.

In any event the reactor would have started up one week from today if not forced back.