New nuclear medicine manufacturing facility

ANSTO has reached a major milestone in advancing its new Nuclear Medicine Manufacturing Facility (NMMF) at Lucas Heights—our siting licence has been awarded by ARPANSA, confirming our chosen location meets stringent regulatory requirements.   

The NMMF is more than a building project, it’s a strategic investment in Australia’s sovereign capability, ensuring the continuous delivery of critical nuclear medicines for generations to come.  

The NMMF is a transformative step for nuclear medicine production in Australia, a milestone for innovation and a commitment to the future healthcare of all Australians.  

ANSTO Group Executive for Infrastructure and Engineering Services, Jasmine Reay, said the licence approval represented a transformative moment for healthcare, sovereignty and our nuclear workforce.  

“This milestone brings us closer to advancing a purpose-built facility that sets new standards in safety and technology,” said Ms Reay.   

“It’s about ensuring Australians have uninterrupted access to nuclear medicines ensuring a sovereign capability that will strengthen our healthcare system for decades to come.”  

The new facility will replace ANSTO’s existing Nuclear Medicine Processing and Distribution Facility, which has served Australians for more than 60 years.   

Major construction is expected to begin in 2027, with the facility operational in the mid-2030s.  

Each week ANSTO produces radioisotopes which enable 10,000 – 12,000 nuclear medicine procedures in hospitals and clinics across Australia. Since the late 1970s, ANSTO has produced a variety of nuclear medicines and now supplies around 75 – 80 per cent of the nuclear medicine isotopes used in Australia.  

For more information about ANSTO’s nuclear medicines check out our factsheet.