Chalk River reactor shutdown to last at least 3 months: AECL

[CHIMO]

The Ontario nuclear reactor that supplies 30 per cent of the world's medical isotopes will be shut down for at least three months to repair, the facility's operator said Wednesday.

The 52-year-old National Research Universal reactor at Chalk River, Ont., was shut down May 15 after inspectors detected a heavy-water leak inside the facility.

The shutdown left doctors and medical researchers scrambling for a scarce supply from the world's four other isotope-producing reactors.

"Based on our preliminary findings to date, we now believe that the NRU reactor will be out of service for at least three months," said Bill Pilkington, AECL senior vice-president and chief nuclear officer.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/05/27/isotopes-reactor-shutdown.html

Make that five or six months the way this government's estimates are. Of course they could open it in a week if the majority party voted it so!

[Spazito]

1. Well, well, well...

look at that. Shut down for safety reasons, who'd a thunk it. Last time it was shut down for valid safety reasons, Harper and his cabal fired the head of the Commission for shutting it down, now they have one of their own in there it's 'different' no doubt.

[daleo]

2. I wonder if we have heard the full story

The fact that the leak occurred right after a power failure seems worth further investigation, given that Ms. Keen was fired for insisting that the plant have additional backup power.

[CHIMO]

3. It Seems

That the sale was on from the beginning. Harper's chicago economics wants every government crown corporation to go to the corporations. It is entirely philosophical. It is just the timing that changes. It looks like there is no party that will stand up to prevent another Avro Arrow happening.

Ontario could step in and buy the system. But I now doubt that.

A last hope might be that Quebec might step in and buy it.

Otherwise.

Bye, bye jobs. And now we will have to step up and pay.