At the Beloyarsk NPP they considered the possibility of producing cobalt-60 in the BN-800 reactor, which is in demand in medicine and industry.  Under the leadership of Nikita Konstantinov, Deputy General Director - Director for Business Development of Rosenergoatom, the project for the production of a useful isotope was discussed by the leaders and specialists of the Beloyarsk NPP, the Scientific Division of Rosatom "Science and Innovations", the Physico-Energy Institute named after  A.I. Leipunsky, OKBM Afrikantov, Mayak and SRI NPO Luch.

Cobalt-60 is used to sterilize food, medical devices and materials, modify the polymer properties of materials, stimulate growth and crop yields.  In nuclear medicine, cobalt-60 is used for radiation therapy of cancer and radiosurgery of brain tumors.

“The creation of new products, in particular, those based on the cobalt-60 isotope, is one of the strategic directions for the development of Rosenergoatom.  By developing competencies in the sphere of modern radiation technologies, we can use the ability of our power reactors, together with the power generation, to generate a radiation source for which demand is constantly growing.  We have been producing cobalt-60 at RBMK reactors for more than 20 years and, given the demand for this material in the world, we are working on increasing the volume of its production,” noted Nikita Konstantinov.

At the moment as part of the project, a technical and economic feasibility is being developed for organizing the production of cobalt-60 in BN-800.  In fact, this is research work, since such production at an industrial level has not been considered before for a unique fast neutron reactor.

At the next stages, technical solutions will be developed that will allow maintaining the complete safety of the operation of the reactor during the production of cobalt, and economic calculations will be performed. Answers to many questions are yet to be found, from the ideal number of irradiation devices placed in the reactor to the methods of their transportation, cutting and processing.

Director of the Beloyarsk NPP Ivan Sidorov noted that the work towards the production of cobalt-60 will provide a good economic effect, including additional tax revenues for the region.  According to him, the project to organize the production of the cobalt-60 isotope is complex, but interesting and an integral criterion for its implementation is compliance with all radiation, nuclear and environmental safety requirements.