Hitachi announces BWR isotope study

Hitachi GE Nuclear Energy has announced it is to start a commercial viability study on the production of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) using boiling water reactors (BWRs) in cooperation with US-based GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy. The Japanese arm of Hitachi and GE's nuclear alliance has also decided to participate in the Government-Industries Joint Meeting on the Stable Supply of Molybdenum-99/Technetium-99. This a Japanese government initiative to develop national responses to recent supply shortages of the medically important radioisotope established in October following a recommendation from the Japanese Atomic Energy Commission. According to Hitachi GE, Japan's demand for Mo-99 is second only to that of the USA. The isotope is usually produced in research reactors, but Hitachi GE and GE Hitachi are working to develop and commercialise its production by irradiating raw molybdenum in BWRs. Two BWRs in the USA have recently been licenced to carry out pilot programs to produce cobalt-60, another medical isotope.