Russian nuclear utility Rosenergoatom (part of state nuclear corporation Rosatom) intends to expand its isotope business in the domestic and foreign markets under its development programme to 2030.
Rosenergoatom together with JSC Rusatom Helskea and V/O Isotop, have already begun practical implementation of programme to increase Rosenergoatom’s share of the global market for Cobalt-60 from 15% to 30%.
“The Kursk NPP alone will produce about a fifth of the annual global demand for Co-60," said Arthur Miskov, head of the isotope business development office of the Rosenergoatom International Business and Development Department.
Cobalt-60 is used to fight the spread of infections, for instance, through the sterilisation of medical devices and the disinfection of food and drinking water.
Rosatom also plans planned to expand the production of medical isotopes including molydenum-99, iodine-131, iodine-125, samarium-153 and lutetium-177, used for the treatment and diagnosis of cancer. It also
Rosatom is also hoping to expand doped silicon production for various industries. The Leningrad NPP already provides about 60% of the Russian market with doped silicon.
Photo credit: Rosenergoatom
