Bruce Power’s latest cobalt-60 harvest represents a major step forward in Canada’s growing influence as a global supplier of life-saving medical isotopes.
Although the Bruce Power site has been producing cobalt-60 for roughly four decades, this most recent effort during the Unit 8 planned outage introduced a new approach. For the first time, newly developed heavy adjuster rods were harvested, which is an advancement designed to increase output without affecting reactor operations.
This harvest is also the first to take place under an expanded agreement between Bruce Power and the Saugeen Ojibway Nation, representing what has been described as the largest investment support for a single Indigenous Nation in Canada. Through the Gamzook’aamin aakoziwin Limited Partnership, cobalt-60 production has now been added, further strengthening Bruce Power’s commitment to economic reconciliation and ensuring long-term benefits for the Nation within its traditional territory.
“Ontario’s nuclear expertise is not only powering our homes and businesses, it is also saving lives through the production of life-saving medical isotopes,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines. “Bruce Power's progress is supporting Ontario's plan to double medical isotope production by 2030.”
Following the successful completion of the Unit 8 outage, the harvested cobalt-60 was transported to Ottawa-based Nordion, where it will be processed and distributed worldwide. The material plays a critical role in sterilizing medical equipment, enhancing food safety, and supporting disease treatment.
Included in the shipment is high-specific activity cobalt-60, a concentrated form used in the Leksell Gamma Knife®, a non-invasive technology for treating complex brain cancers. The procedure is typically completed in under an hour, is virtually painless, and often leads to significant improvements in patients’ quality of life.
“I want to thank the entire team that has led to this success,” said James Scongack, Bruce Power’s Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice-President. “Through our partnerships with Nordion and the Saugeen Ojibway Nation, along with the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council, Bruce Power and its dedicated team are helping patients all over the world with the production of these crucial medical isotopes.”
Canada continues to be recognized as a global leader in both clean energy and medical isotope production, with Bruce Power playing a key role in that standing.
“Nuclear power and energy security are of the utmost importance to Canada’s long-term success and our global leadership role, and so is our production of life-saving medical isotopes,” Scongack said. “When it comes to isotopes, the world is counting on Canada.”
