Preparing for Molybdenum-99 Production In Malaysia [Country report: Malaysia]

The research reactor at Nuclear Malaysia, which has been in operation since June 1982, has a maximum flux of 1x10¹³ n/cm²/s at its central position, has been utilized in production of neutron activated molybdenum-99 (⁹⁹Mo) and may be suitable for the new initiative for producing fission ⁹⁹Mo from low enriched uranium (LEU) targets if an upgrade involving its power and neutron flux were done. Currently, there is no fission ⁹⁹Mo production in place in Malaysia; however, there is an existing weekly ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc generator production utilizing imported fission ⁹⁹Mo. Malaysia’s current demand for fission ⁹⁹Mo is relatively small but is still affected by the recent supply turmoil. At the request of the Malaysia Nuclear Agency, the IAEA organized a fact-finding mission to assess currently available infrastructure against that necessary to produce fission ⁹⁹Mo sufficient for domestic needs or additionally to contribute to regional fission ⁹⁹Mo supply security. During the mission, ⁹⁹Mo production from LEU and the alternative neutron activation method were considered. Taking into consideration sufficient upgrade of the current research reactor power and neutron flux, neutron activation could satisfy current national demand but offers little excess capacity to accommodate future growth or participation in the regional ⁹⁹Mo market. Also at a higher reactor power and neutron flux, LEU fission based technologies could produce adequate quantities for domestic and regional supply, but require significantly greater resource commitment than neutron activation production technologies particularly with respect to the management and ultimate disposition of all waste streams. In addition to the completion of the reactor power and flux upgrade, revising the operating mode to continuous operation is a prerequisite to fission ⁹⁹Mo production together with additional equipment for handling and transferring higher radiation dose target capsules from the reactor to the hot-cell and processing facility. However, in case the current situation remains then additional alternative supply arrangement for ⁹⁹Mo will be necessary in order to ensure security of local ⁹⁹Mo supply. In additional to this mission from the IAEA, a team from Gamma-Service Group International (GSG) also assessed the facilities in Malaysia and provided a proposal based on its technology for establishing a local production facility for fission ⁹⁹Mo using LEU within the confines of existing available space subject to similar research reactor power and neutron flux upgrade. (author)