Canada isotope reactor out till late 2009

CHALK RIVER, Ontario, July 8 (UPI) -- A Canadian nuclear reactor that has been a major world supplier of medical isotopes will stay shut down at least until late this year, officials said Wednesday.

The Chalk River, Ontario, nuclear facility was idled after radioactive water was found leaking inside the reactor May 15. Initially, Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. officials had anticipated a return to production within three months. That changed with Wednesday's announcement by Atomic Energy President Hugh MacDiarmid that it will be at least late 2009 and possibly longer if delays are encountered in the repair and inspection process, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported.

"We are very conscious of the impact of an unplanned reactor shutdown, and we recognize the concerns and planning needs of the health community, patients and isotope producers," MacDiarmid said.

The 52-year-old reactor had been producing about a third of the world's supply of medical isotopes used for cancer and heart disease tests around the world. Nuclear reactors in Europe and South Africa are producing about 70 percent of the supply now.