Toronto – March 11, 2024 – As the voice of Canada’s isotope industry, the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council (CNIC) aims to drive and strengthen Canada’s isotope sector through innovation, leadership, and collaboration. CNIC represents Canada’s nuclear isotope infrastructure, research institutions, medical community, and specialized companies and organizations across the country.
In support of its vision of bringing together all facets and stages of the isotope supply chain, CNIC is proud to announce that the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) has joined its growing membership.
The NWMO is a not-for-profit organization tasked with the safe, long-term management of Canada’s used nuclear fuel. Under its recently updated mandate, the NWMO is also responsible for managing intermediate and non-fuel high level waste.
To that end, the NWMO is in the process of developing a siting process for non-fuel high- and intermediate-level waste. During this process, the NWMO will be looking to CNIC and its members to understand more about isotope uses, handling, production and the subsequent waste that may be produced from isotope production.
“As global demand for isotopes continues to grow, Canadian companies are innovating to develop revolutionary ways to produce, package, and deliver isotopes around the world. To support this growth, Canada must also be committed to developing safe storage of waste and isotope by-products,” said James Scongack, Chair of the CNIC. “With members like NWMO, CNIC and the industry are planning ahead to ensure that the nuclear medicine supply chain is well positioned to secure decades of cancer-fighting treatments.”
“With the NWMO’s recently updated mandate to include intermediate and non-fuel high level waste, increased collaboration with groups like the CNIC and their membership is critical to ensure that the nuclear sector is working together for the safe long-term management of nuclear waste and isotope by-products,” said Laurie Swami, President and CEO of the Nuclear Waste Management Organization. “The NWMO is looking forward to working with the CNIC and industry stakeholders to learn more about how we can assist in the availability of these essential medical treatments.”
This new collaboration will support information-sharing between Canada’s isotope industry and the NWMO. In pursuit of CNIC’s goal of improving access to essential isotopes, CNIC will leverage its expertise across the supply chain to support the NWMO’s initiatives, while protecting workers, patients, and the public alike.
To learn more about the NWMO, visit https://www.nwmo.ca/
About the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council
The Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council (CNIC) is an independent, not-for-profit advocacy and member services organization. The CNIC supports over 85 members from across science, academia, healthcare, and nuclear-sector organizations dedicated to maintaining Canada’s position as a global leader in the production of life-saving isotopes. The CNIC raises awareness and advocates for long-term policies that support health-care innovation and will save countless lives for decades to come.
To learn more about the CNIC, visit www.CanadianIsotopes.ca and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
For more information, please contact:
Melody Greaves
Manager, Strategic Relations
Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council
melody.greaves@canadianisotopes.ca