Darlington station authorized to produce cobalt-60

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) on Friday announced the decision to amend Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG’s) power reactor operating licence for the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station (NGS) to authorize the production of the cobalt-60 (Co-60) radioisotope.

Co-60 is a radioisotope with a variety of applications, including nuclear medicine and the sterilization of medical and industrial equipment. OPG intends to produce Co-60 in all 4 reactor units at the Darlington NGS.

The Darlington NGS is located in the Municipality of Clarington.

The commission’s decision follows a public hearing in writing with interventions, and the amended licence will remain valid until November 30, 2025, said a CNSC statement.

The record of decision is available upon request by contacting the Commission Registry at interventions@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca. It will also be posted in both official languages on the CNSC website at cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca at a later date. All submissions are also available on the CNSC website.

The statement said CNSC regulates the use of nuclear energy and materials to protect health, safety, security and the environment; to implement Canada’s international commitments on the peaceful use of nuclear energy; and to disseminate objective scientific, technical and regulatory information to the public. The Commission is a quasi-judicial administrative tribunal set up at arm’s length from government, independent from any political, government or private sector influence.

Timeline

• On April 28, 2023, OPG submitted an application to amend its power reactor operating licence for the Darlington NGS to authorize the production of Co-60.
• On October 23, 2023, the commission published a notice of hearing in writing and participant funding.
• On January 8, 2024, the commission published a revised notice of hearing in writing and participant funding.
• The commission considered submissions from 12 intervenors and received additional information in response to its questions. All hearing submissions are available on the CNSC website.
• The commission decided to amend the power reactor operating licence for the Darlington NGS to authorize the production of the Co-60 radioisotope.
• The amended power reactor operating licence is valid until November 30, 2025.

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