Countdown to cancer breakthrough: Ontario partners with Bruce Power to build new isotope plant

Ontario Construction News staff writer

Bruce Power will partner with Isogen to construct a new hot cell in Bruce County to process the cancer-fighting medical isotope lutetium-177 which is used as a targeted therapy, including for prostate cancer and neuroendocrine tumours.

“Life-saving medical isotopes produced in Ontario’s nuclear generating stations are one of the most consequential tools doctors have available to diagnose and treat the more than 247,000 Canadians who are diagnosed with cancer each year,” Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Electrification, said in a recent statement. “My own family, like that of so many Canadians, has been impacted by cancer, so I know that this initiative will save lives and further cement Ontario’s place as a global leader in the production and processing of cancer-fighting medical isotopes.”

In addition, Bruce Power will start to refurbish Unit 4 in February, and the refurbishment of Unit 3 is already underway.

In total, Ontario is planning to refurbish a total of six Bruce units (Units 3 to 8) by 2033, which will extend their operating lives for at least another 30 years.

“The exciting part of this is that when we have all of the infrastructure in place with our Isotope Production System and the new hot cell fully operational, the sky is the limit on our production and research of new medical isotopes for doctors and patients around the world, allowing a breakthrough in cancer treatment” said Eric Chassard, Bruce Power’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “This is a true made-in-Ontario and made-in-Canada success story that Bruce Power, the nuclear industry and our supplier partners can be extremely proud of.”

Supporting nuclear energy is just one part of Ontario’s Affordable Energy Future, the government’s vision as it plans for rising energy demand, which includes:

• Nuclear energy – Advancing clean, reliable, and affordable nuclear power through pre-development work at Bruce Power on the province’s first large-scale nuclear build in 30 years, four small modular reactors at Darlington and supporting OPG’s plan for refurbishing the Pickering Nuclear Generation Station.
• New Ttansmission infrastructure – Designating and prioritizing transmission lines in Southwestern, Northeastern and Eastern Ontario that will power job creators, including EV and EV battery manufacturing and clean steel production.

“Today’s announcements demonstrate that communities in Bruce, Grey and Huron Counties are proving that rural Ontario has the capacity, the talent and genuine desire to support the development of global-leading, cancer-fighting technologies, in addition to growing the production of clean, affordable energy that will position the province to confidently build for future growth and prosperity,” said Lisa Thompson, MPP for Huron-Bruce.

The Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) has forecast that by 2050, Ontario’s electricity consumption will rise by 75 per cent. This demand stems primarily from Ontario’s rapidly increasing population, new manufacturing facilities, advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) data centres, the electrification of industry, and the charging energy required for electric vehicles.

Nuclear power currently provides more than 50 per cent of Ontario’s electricity supply and has positioned Ontario as one of the cleanest electricity grids in the world.