Public discussions have been held in the city of Kurchatov in Russia’s Kursk region, on the justification of the production of new medical isotopes at the Kursk NPP. These include samarium-153, iodine-131, iodine-125, molybdenum-99 and lutetium-177, used for the production of radiopharmaceuticals for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiological and oncological diseases.
Public discussions – a mandatory procedure enshrined in Russian law – took place in the form of a survey. The 326 people who completed the survey supported the proposal after studying the materials of the licence justification and environmental impact assessment. The approved documents will now be sent for state environmental review at Rosprirodnadzor. They will then be included in a package of substantiating documents for obtaining a a licence from Rostekhnadzor to conduct the new activity at the NPP. In 2025, the nuclear utility Rosenergoatom hopes to obtain permission from Rostekhnadzor for the safe handling of radioactive substances (medical isotopes) at Kursk.
Kursk NPP hosts four RBMK-1000 reactors. Unit 1 was shut in 2021 after 45 years of operation, and unit 2 earlier this year. Units 3&4 are currently due to retire by 2033 and 2035. They are being replaced by four VVER-TOI reactors at the nearby Kursk II site.
Production of cobalt-60 has been underway at Kursk since 2018 as well as at the RBMK reactors at Leningrad’s units 3&4 and Smolensk NPP’s units 1-3. Leningrad also produces molybdenum-99, iodine-131, lutetium-177, samarium-153 as well as radiation-alloyed silicon.
Four units with first generation RBMK-1000 reactors have been closed and are being decommissioned (Leningrad 1&2 and Kursk 1&2). However, the NA Dollezhal Scientific Research & Design Institute of Power Engineering (Nikiet) has proposed extending the operating life of second generation RBMK’s from 45 to 50 years. The RBMK (Reactor Bolshoi Moshnosti Kanalnii – high power channel reactor) is a heterogeneous thermal neutron reactor that uses graphite as a moderator. The coolant is water, and the fuel is uranium dioxide.
«Due to the design features of the RBMK reactors, the nuclear-physical characteristics of the core, the Kursk NPP is capable of continuous operation, a process required for developing medical isotopes,” said Nikolai Kushkova, head of the radiation technology department at the Kursk NPP. “Without affecting the process, without stopping the reactor, you can load a large amount of starting material, – so-called targets – simultaneously with different types of isotopes. Medical isotopes are irradiated in short periods, which allows them to be produced in larger quantities. For example, it takes 120 hours to practice samarium-153, and three weeks for iodine-131. After extraction with the help of special equipment, the irradiated target will be placed in a packaging transportation container, then delivered by special transport to the customer. At the next stage, the target isotope is isolated from the irradiated target to enable the manufacture of radiopharmaceutical products.”
Kursk NPP Director Alexander Uvakin said the most important goal of medical isotope production is the well-being and health of the population by increasing the availability of modern methods for diagnosing and treating illness. “The Nuclear industry offers benefits not only in terms of energy. Developing competencies in the field of modern radiation technologies, we use the ability of our reactors not only to generate electricity, but also to produce products that are in demand in the country and in the world.”
Denis Pereguda, Deputy Chief Engineer for safety and reliability at Kursk NPP said the technology is safe with no impact on the environment or personnel at all stages of its implementation. “In the production of medical isotopes, there are no emissions and discharges of radioactive substances, protection is provided by existing reliable safety barriers. Before starting new production, we did a lot of work on in-depth analysis and justification of safety.”
Rosatom says demand for its radioisotope products has been increasing, with exports up 15% in 2023 and around 2.5m diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed worldwide using Rosatom’s isotopes, which are supplied to around 170 companies in 50 countries.
Meanwhile, Titan-2 is looking for a supplier of electrical equipment for the reconstruction of the power supply scheme Kursk unit 3 to enable it to operate for another nine years. The purchase amount is RUB2.399bn ($22.5m) according to information on electronic trading platforms.
