In September 2012, ANSTO announced plans for an export-scale nuclear medicine manufacturing plant at our campus in Lucas Heights, in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire.
Today it has been announced that the plans have been approved by the independent nuclear regulator, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), which undertook an expert assessment including a submissions and community consultation process.
Under the plans, ANSTO will take a global leadership role in the production of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), which becomes technetium-99m (Tc-99m) and is used in hospitals and medical centres for the diagnosis of heart disease, cancer and muscular and skeletal conditions.
Every week nuclear medicines are transported to more than 250 hospitals and medical centres across Australia, and more than 550,000 people receive a diagnosis using this medicine every single year.
While world demand for Mo-99 is increasing, global supply is falling. A new ANSTO facility will enable Australia to help meet local and global demand with medicine using only Low Enriched Uranium.
“ANSTO has 60 years of experience in safely managing science infrastructure right here in the Shire, and we are pleased that expertise and the quality of our plans has been recognised through the approval by the independent regulator,” said an ANSTO spokesperson.
“ANSTO has a long, proud tradition of working closely with our community as we develop infrastructure and services that improves the environment, contributes to Australian industry, improves health outcomes and potentially saves lives.
“While this is a good thing for patients and non-proliferation, it has always been ANSTO’s position that the most appropriate location for storage of by-products from nuclear medicine production is in a permanent national repository. ANSTO continues to join with the council and community to advocate that view.”
Published: 04/10/2013