NTP Radioisotopes SOC Ltd, a subsidiary of the South African Nuclear EnergyCorporation (Necsa), produces a quarter of the world¡¯s medical radioisotopesused to allow for about 40 million medical diagnostic images every year, makingit the third largest producer and supplier globally. This proud South Africancorporate citizen is situated at the sophisticated Necsa nuclear facility site,west of Pretoria and routinely serves customers in 60 countries on sixcontinents with its range of nuclear radiation-based products and services.
NTP contributes greatly to South Africa¡¯s GDP
Being customer focused, and socially and environmentally responsible, NTPhas put South Africa on the world map as a promising emerging market,contributing nearly R1-billion in local and international radiopharmaceuticalrevenue, according to annual reports.
Phumzile Tshelane, CEO of Necsa, said that NTP enjoys a reputation built onconsistent, reliable service and product quality excellence with a strongcompetitive advantage over other isotope producers due to direct control over,or access to raw materials, facilities and processes.
South Africa is the first country in the world to successfully implementcommercial scale LEU-based Mo-99 and I-131 production
A global milestone was achieved in June 2009 when the SAFARI-1 reactorfirst fuelled up its core using low enriched (non-weapons grade) uranium (LEU)instead of the highly enriched uranium (HEU) used previously. Tshelaneexplained, "This accomplishment, together with the conversion of target plates(from which Mo-99 and I-131 are extracted) to LEU, marked the beginning of thefirst-ever commercial scale fully LEU-based Mo-99 production."
These successes were followed by delivery of the first shipment ofLEU-based Mo-99 to a customer in the US late in 2010. Shipments of LEU Mo-99still continue.
"SAFARI-1 is the only research reactor in the world with the highest numberof operational days per annum (over 300 days), thereby ensuring optimalradioisotope production capacity as well as maintaining a stringent maintenanceschedule," said Tshelane. "The reactor although 48 years old, is extremely wellmaintained and constantly upgraded, which means it will operate at least until2030."
NTP undertook this conversion process from Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU)targets plates to those fabricated from low-enriched Uranium (LEU) asencouraged by the Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI) of the USA¡¯sNational Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). The NNSA initiative seeks toeliminate the possibility of bomb-grade HEU falling into the hands ofterrorists and NTP has been internationally lauded for its pioneeringachievement in eliminating its dependence on HEU for radioisotope production.
Don Robertson, MD of NTP, said, "Molybdenum-99 made in reactors fuelled byLEU is an important contribution to production safety, and in providinghealthcare industries with safe and secure, cost effective, and uninterruptedaccess to critical, often lifesaving medical imaging procedures."
World-class Expertise
NTP¡¯s world-class expertise in medical radioisotope production using theSAFARI-1 reactor and sophisticated processing facilities are Molybdenum-99(Mo-99)- decay product Technetium-99m (Tc-99m) – used to diagnose cancer, heartand numerous other diseases and Iodine-131 (I-131) used in the treatment ofthyroid ailments. Robertson further explained, "Production of Mo-99 by NTP, ona commercial scale, was developed during the early 1990s. After this productioncapacity and penetrating the global market, NTP emerged as one of today¡¯s worldleaders in the field."
For the past 18 years, NTP maintained a successful consortium radioisotopesupply arrangement with IRE of Belgium. Each organisation has been able toprovide back-up Mo-99 supply for the other during times when either plant hasbeen out of operation for maintenance purposes. The long-term alliance with IREto a large degree contributed towards NTP¡¯s status of one of the world¡¯sleading suppliers of Mo-99 owing to the sustained and reliable supply achievedover the years.
Speaking about NTP¡¯s achievements, Tshelane added that NTP established apartnership with the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation(ANSTO) in terms of which a large-scale Mo-99 production facility will beconstructed at ANSTO using NTP¡¯s technology and expertise, supported by ANSTO¡¯sextensive capabilities and experience. He said, "The South African-AustralianMo-99 production partnership was established in September 2012 and comes at acritical time for nuclear medicine provision owing to the imminent closure ofcertain large Mo-99 production facilities in Canada and Europe."
"We are proud that a purely South African technological advancement hascontributed so significantly to nuclear non-proliferation efforts, whilesimultaneously enhancing the lives of millions of patients benefitting from theuse of nuclear medicine. This illustrates South Africa¡¯s and NTP¡¯s commitmentto the utilisation of proven nuclear technology for peaceful purposes,"concluded Robertson.
For more information visit: http://www.ntp.co.za