Delivery schedule

19 July 2024

Following our communications last week, here is an update on the OPAL Shutdown schedule and nuclear medicine supply. Based on the latest available data, and with safety continuing to drive every decision, the OPAL team is expecting a return to power by end September. Once OPAL returns to power, up to 10 days irradiation and processing time is required before nuclear medicine can be ready for distribution.

The challenge 

The highly complex operation of replacing the Cold Neutron Source (CNS) continues with our team currently working through an extremely technically difficult part of the program, which is reconnecting the CNS pipework to the reactor. While we have mobilised all available resources to solve this technical challenge as quickly as possible, the complex engineering processes are taking time to implement. Ensuring the highest safety standards remains our priority. 

Supply of nuclear medicine 

We have commenced discussions with our international suppliers to secure Mo-99 for Gentech Generators, Lu-177 and I-131 nuclear medicine supply through to early October, subject to these supplier's product availability and logistics. Our team continues to progress these discussions and will have more information next week.

At this stage, our initial enquiries indicate there may be some supply constraints for Gentech Generators from 2 to 8 September and 21 September to 11 October. ANSTO is working with our international suppliers to address this and will have more information to share at the end of this month.

To date, 96% of imported nuclear medicine products have been supplied to ANSTO in full and on time during this long shutdown period. 

Chromium supply is scheduled to resume in November with further updates to be provided. We apologise for any inconveniences caused.

Next steps

ANSTO will continue to send you regular updates throughout the remainder of the program. 

If you have any questions at this time, please reach out to our team at health@ansto.gov.au  
 

ANSTO is now 17 weeks into the most significant maintenance and upgrade program in the OPAL reactor’s 17-year history. Based on the latest available data, and with safety continuing to drive every decision, the OPAL team is working toward a recommencement of operations around mid-September.
 
The challenge 
A key driver of the planned long shutdown is the replacement of the reactor’s unique Cold Neutron Source (CNS). As the highly complex operation progresses, major milestones have been reached, however, a number of unforeseen technical challenges have resulted in a series of accumulated delays. The team is currently working through a technically difficult part of the program, which is reconnecting the CNS pipework to the reactor. ANSTO has mobilised every available resource to solve this technical challenge as quickly as possible while maintaining the highest of safety standards.
 
Supply of nuclear medicines 
At this time, ANSTO has arrangements in place for nuclear medicine supply through to week commencing 26 August. ANSTO has commenced discussions with our international suppliers to secure nuclear medicine supply through to mid-September and will update our customers on supply arrangements once concluded. 
 
This extension in the shutdown period will delay the resumption of Chromium supply. ANSTO is reevaluating when Chromium supply will resume, with further updates to be provided. We apologise for any inconveniences caused.
 
Next steps
ANSTO remains committed to informing all our nuclear medicine customers of its planned long shutdown developments. This project is evolving continuously with ANSTO staff working to safely return OPAL to power as soon as possible. We will update you further next week.

If you have any questions, please reach out to our team via health@ansto.gov.au  

 

ANSTO is now 15 weeks into the most significant maintenance and upgrade program in OPAL’s 17 year history. Last month we communicated a target reactor return to power in early August. Below, please find a further update. 

Shutdown schedule 

In preparing for this extremely technical project, ANSTO built a full-size reactor mock-up that allowed our teams to develop, refine, train and practice the required complex processes. However, in the real-world, unique live reactor environment, we have found several novel procedures have taken longer than originally anticipated.