Karl Herchenroeder
RW Monitor
12/18/2015
SHINE Medical Technologies moved one step closer this week to building its $100 million radioisotope production facility in Janesville, Wis., that is expected to satisfy more than half the U.S. demand for the medical isotope molybdenum-99.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff concluded during a hearing Tuesday that SHINE is both technically and financially capable of carrying out the plan, and that all environmental and public concerns have been addressed to this point. The commission expects an order with post-hearing questions from NRC Secretary Annette Vietti-Cook around Dec. 22, and during the session the commissioners expressed eagerness to come to a decision on issuing SHINE’s construction permit. If approved, the company would still need to obtain a federal operating license.
“The commission is well served to make a very efficient deliberation and hopefully a timely decision on this matter,” Commissioner Kristine Svinicki said in closing remarks following the six-hour hearing.
Molybdenum-99 is a radioisotope that decays into technetium-99m. Collectively, the isotopes account for 40 million doses annually around the world. The isotopes are used for treating cancer of the brain, blood, bones, lungs, liver, kidney, and other organs.
The supply of molybdenum-99 is uncertain, as Canada’s National Research Universal reactor is expected to permanently shut down in March 2018, leaving the Western Hemisphere without a supplier of the isotope.
SHINE’s new plant, scheduled for completion in 2018, would employ about 150 people, and the company expects to begin commercial production in 2019. While company founder and CEO Gregory Piefer said his team is confident in its production technology, there are still financial details that need to be secured.
“There’s a few things outstanding in terms of longevity of the plant, etc., that are being worked on,” Piefer told the commission. “You mentioned financing uncertainty. (Financing and technology) are tied hand in hand. That’s another thing – we’re in a hurry. We’ve got to do it right, but obviously given the exit of the reactors we’d like to move as quickly as possible.”
Piefer said the company plans to break ground in Wisconsin in spring 2017.
NRC Director for the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Bill Dean noted that the Janesville plant is in line with national policy objectives that support the production of molybdenum-99. This includes the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Global Threat Reduction Initiative, which in part aims to increase the domestic supply of the isotope and minimize civilian use of highly enriched uranium. The semiautonomous Department of Energy agency has awarded more than $25 million to SHINE’s project.
Might also note funds given to other radioisotope projects.
