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Reactor Petten restarts on the 16th of February 2009

Petten, 14 October 2008

Petten, 14 October 2008 - The High Flux Reactor (HFR) in Petten will restart on 16th of February. NRG, together with Areva/Uddcomb Engineering, has developed a repair plan as a result of which the pipe wall of the primary coolant system can be repaired and the reactor returned to service.

The repair comprises the introduction of a sleeve into a section of pipework of the primary cooling system where corrosion and deformation have taken place. The sleeve will be installed using remote handling equipment and fixed in position by way of mechanical clamps.

Repair requires considerable effort

The repair of the HFR is a particularly complex matter and requires considerable effort on the part of NRG, Uddcomb and the other external parties involved. The pipework section of the primary coolant system in question happens to be contained in concrete and is difficult to access. This complicates the repair process and demands rigorous preparation. NRG has, together with Uddcomb and other external consultants, made every effort to develop an appropriate solution for the technical problem, such that it can be solved as efficiently and as quickly as possible. On the basis of knowledge gathered worldwide, the definitive preparations for the repair have now commenced.

Isotope market coordinates production to minimise shortages

NRG contributes to between 30 and 40% of the world wide medical isotope production. As a result of the unplanned outage of the HFR, shortages have arisen on the market for medical isotopes which will now continue up to mid- February. During a meeting of the Association or Imaging Producers & Equipment Suppliers (AIPES) on 13th October, NRG gave an explanation of the HFR situation to enable the other players on the isotope market to take their own measures to limit the shortages as far as possible. The conclusion drawn from the meeting is that, with the HRF out of service, continued supply will be limited, with delivery vulnerable and with limited guarantee. By means of mutual agreement AIPES is in search of ways to minimise the shortages. AIPES represents not only the pharmaceutical industry but also the reactors responsible for isotope production. This organisation has, amongst others, the aim of maintaining the certainty of supply of isotopes.

Alternative molybdenum supply

NRG has regular contact with customers and supports them wherever possible in developing alternative supply possibilities. This initiative has lead to the development of an alternative supply for medical isotopes in collaboration with the Belgian IRE, the French CEA and Covidien in Petten. The collaboration made it possible to irradiate the targets from IRE in the French Osiris-reactor in France and to process them via the pharmaceutical company Covidien in the Netherlands. In this way for the past two weeks the only available reactor in Europe with production capacity has been coupled to the only available production line in Europe at the time. This has contributed significantly to limiting isotope shortages.

Background

On 21st August, NRG decided not to start up the High Flux Reactor at the end of a month of major maintenance and inspections. A trace of gas bubble was detected in the primary cooling system during the course of these inspections, caused by corrosion of the primary pipework of the primary cooling system of the reactor.

Uddcomb Engineering/Areva

Uddcomb Engineering AB offer technical solutions worldwide for the improved performance, availability and security of the facilities of their customers. Uddcomb is specialised in project management, analysis, calculational methods, mechanical design and weld technology, mainly in support of process systems and construction industries. The company has approximately 160 employees in Karlskrona and Helsingborg (Sweden). Uddcomb Engineering AB is a full subsidiary company of Areva NP.