Canada Approves Bruce Power Hot Cell Facility for Lutetium-177 Processing

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On August 17, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission revised the lutetium-177 production licensing basis for Bruce Power's Bruce A and Bruce B nuclear stations, allowing target carrier removal operations to be conducted using its newly built on-site hot cell facility. The facility is still in the preparation stage for commercial operation, and Bruce Power plans to commence commercial operations this September.

Under the previous licensing scope, Bruce Power was permitted to irradiate lutetium-177 targets in the reactor, load the irradiated targets into Type B transport containers, and complete shipping preparations. This amendment adds an on-site processing step, allowing aluminum or titanium target carriers to be removed from quartz ampoules within the nuclear station. After processing, the ampoules must still be loaded into transport containers and shipped to off-site facilities for further processing; no final pharmaceutical production occurs at the nuclear station.

Bruce Power currently uses the isotope production system on Unit 7 to irradiate targets containing ytterbium-176 oxide to produce lutetium-177. The new facility employs shielded structures and remote mechanical handling equipment, enabling workers to process irradiated materials under isolated conditions. The facility's construction used more than 90,000 kilograms of concrete and is equipped with a personnel access door weighing approximately 7,000 kilograms, along with lead-glass viewing windows.

The hot cell was jointly constructed by Bruce Power, Kinectrics, and Bird Construction, with civil works and equipment installation completed before July of this year. The project subsequently entered the licensing, commissioning, and operational readiness phases. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission reviewed submissions from Bruce Power, regulatory staff, and 13 interveners through a written hearing, ultimately approving the amendment to the relevant licensing basis.

Bruce Power began commercial production of lutetium-177 using Unit 7 in October 2022. The company is also installing another isotope production system on Unit 6 to expand its medical isotope production capacity. This approval does not change the nuclear station operating license itself but rather adjusts the manner in which existing licensed activities are conducted.