Nordion looks to strengthen Mo-99 deal with Russia

Nordion has been granted special permission by Isotope, the authorized subsidiary of Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation, Rosatom, to enter into a negotiation with the Research Institute of Atomic Reactors (RIAR) for supply of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99).

Nordion and Isotope have agreed that the current Mo-99 supply agreement structure was no longer appropriate and have terminated their Mo-99 supply agreement, effective Oct. 26. The 2010 framework agreement with Isotope, to explore and define areas of collaboration for the supply, marketing and sale of isotopes produced in Russia is expected to remain in effect.

With confirmation that the MAPLE facilities will not be commissioned, Nordion said it is now reassessing sources of long-term Mo-99 supply, and intends to enter a negotiation with RIAR for the supply of Mo-99.

Similar to the Isotope supply agreement, the negotiations with RIAR are intended to focus on the supply of Mo-99 to Nordion for the processing, distribution and sale of Mo-99 outside of Russia. This supply of Mo-99 would be produced by RIAR’s reactors in Dimtrovgrad, Russia. If an agreement is reached with RIAR, the Ottawa-based Nordion expects that such an agreement could establish, following required regulatory approvals, a supplemental supply of Mo-99 which could potentially meet a portion of Nordion’s long-term supply requirements. "The Mo-99 volume associated with supply from RIAR would be anticipated to be significantly lower compared with the original agreement that Nordion had with Isotope," the company noted.

The RIAR facility includes six nuclear research reactors, as well as a nuclear fuel research complex, radiochemical unit and radioactive waste management complex.