State Atomic Energy ROSATOM : Smolensk NPP started producing cobalt-60

On the 30th of September, 2017 the first extra cobalt absorbers were loaded to the reactor Smolensk-1 (a branch of Rosenergoatom, part of Power Division of ROSATOM). This has been the significant step to large-scale development of the current radiation technologies to produce this chemical element which does not exist in the nature but is needed for medicine and industry.

Cobalt-60 is stably in high commercial demand in the Russian and foreign market and has a decade-long growth prospective. Co-60 is widely used for sterilization of foods, medical tools and materials; for stimulating growth and yield of crops and vegetables; for disinfection and clean-up of industrial waste; for radiation surgery of various pathologies; and for gamma flaw detection of a wide range of items.

'The extra cobalt absorbers have two functions: the economical production of isotopes to get gamma-radiation sources and the achievement of safe operation of the reactor through maintaining the steam coefficient of reactivity within the limits set up by the process regulations,' said Deputy Head of Department for Radiation Technologies of Smolensk NPP Ruslan Smirnov.

Before the end of 2017, at Smolensk NPP about 20 cobalt absorbers will be additionally loaded into the reactor of Unit 1. They are produced by Mashinostroitelny Zavod. In 2018-2019, extra cobalt absorbers will be loaded in reactors of Units 2 and 3 of Smolensk NPP and Unit 4 of Kursk NPP.

To read more please visit: http://www.rosatom.ru/en/press-centre/news/smolensk-npp-started-producing-cobalt-60/

Source: Rosatom