CTV reports that the federal government is set to introduce emergency legislation later today to compel the Chalk River nuclear reactor to restart for 120 days to allow the production of medical radioisotopes.
The National Research Universal (NRU) reactor in Chalk River, Ont., which is operated by Atomic Energy Canada Ltd. (AECL) was closed for repairs on Nov. 18.
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has said several new safety standards must be met before the reactor can be reopened. The repairs have taken longer than expected, leading to radioisotope shortages throughout North America.
That has delayed diagnostic testing, therapies and surgeries tremendously.
More than two-thirds of the world's medical isotopes are produced at the publicly-owned reactor.
CTV reports further that if the legislation passes, the reactor will be allowed to re-open for three months to resume production of the radioisotopes.
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