The Nuclear Research and Consultancy Group (NRG) in the Netherlands predicts it will be late October or November before it can resume production at the High Flux Reactor in Petten.
The facility was closed temporarily last month for repairs, igniting concerns that it would lead to a worldwide shortage of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), the precursor to technetium-99m, the most widely used isotope in nuclear medicine.
The continued closure "will have an impact on the medical isotope market," a statement from the NRG noted. "NRG will not produce any medical isotopes in the months September and October (until 25th of October). We have already informed our customers about the situation. We are assisting in the search for alternative supply routes."
In late April, Atomic Energy of Canada (AECL) said that its Chalk River nuclear reactor in Ontario would not be able to make up for the Dutch shortage and meet the global demand for medical radioactive isotopes, even if Chalk River increased production.
Related Reading
AECL: Increased production won't cover demand, August 29, 2008
SNM has 'serious concerns' over isotope situation, August 28, 2008
AECL monitors isotope supply after Dutch shutdown, August 26, 2008
SNM draft report shows U.S. Mo-99 production years away, July 22, 2008
MDS sues AECL for $1.6 billion over Maple reactors, July 9, 2008
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