OREANDA-NEWS. June 17, 2015. In the beginning of June a team of experts from South-African corporation NESCA (Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa) arrived with a working visit at Leningrad NPP (affiliate of JSC Concern Rosenergoatom, Leningrad region). In the course of the visit the guests toured the operating unit of Leningrad NPP engaged in fabrication of various isotopic products.

The Russian party was represented at the meeting by SC Rusatom Overseas, JSC V/O Isotope and JSC Concern Rosenergoatom. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the opportunities and perspectives for production of radioisotope products at the capacities of Leningrad NPP.

In his welcome address Mr. Sergey Gubin, Acting Director of Leningrad NPP noted that nuclear engineers of Leningrad NPP have successfully fabricated isotope products since 1996. Leningrad NPP thanks to its technological capabilities produces over 15 titles of radioactive isotopes of medical and industrial designation. In particular, the successfully arranged production of Cobalt-60 (Co-60) allowed Russia to occupy a significant share of the world market in the segment of this product.

Mrs. Marina Nefyodova, Deputy Director General of SC Rusatom Overseas made some clarifications by the result of the meeting: "The meeting held today is important not only for the participants, but also for the entire world medical society. The issues associated with the production of the most consumed in nuclear medicine radioisotope Molibdenum-99 (Мо-99) concern the experts all over the world. The production capacities of ROSATOM allows to arrange the production of Мо-99 to cover its possible deficit on the global scale. It is important to emphasize that production of Мо-99 at the capacities of Leningrad NPP could be arranged on the basis of Low-Enrichment Uranium (LEU). Our colleagues from South Africa are one of the leaders in the world market in the area of Mo-99 production. In addition, they were the first who developed the full-scope production of this isotope from LEU. The application of this technology at the industrial capacities of ROSATOM allows not only to make a significant contribution in the development of Russian nuclear industry, but will be an important step on the way of ensuring sustainable development of the world nuclear medicine market".