Cranberry Township, PA-based Westinghouse Electric Company announced it had joined Nordion Inc. and PSEG Nuclear LLC to establish the first commercial-scale production of Cobalt-60 Pressurized Water Reactors.
The group said their joint initiative to establish Cobalt-60 PWRs signals a step towards a secure, diversified domestic Cobalt-60 supply. Cobalt-60 is a critical isotope used to sterilize more than 16 billion single-use medical devices each year in the US, and to deliver life-saving cancer treatments through stereotactic radiosurgery as well as food irradiation.
“Deploying Cobalt-60 production technology into pressurized water reactors marks a significant milestone, extending Cobalt-60 production to a new reactor platform for the first time,” Sophie Lemaire, interim co-president of Westinghouse Nuclear Fuel, said. “This advancement strengthens global supply and demonstrates how commercial nuclear energy can support critical healthcare infrastructure.”
The companies said they have entered into long-term agreements to implement Cobalt-60 production technology for PWRs at PSEG’s Salem nuclear generating station in New Jersey with Cobalt-60 supplied by Nordion. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is reviewing PSEG’s License Amendment Request (LAR), and the parties are targeting 2026 as the year to implement the technology, subject to NRC authorization and plant operational schedules.
“PSEG is proud to participate in a project that highlights the versatility and value of nuclear energy,” said Charles McFeaters, President and Chief Nuclear Officer at PSEG Nuclear. “Producing Cobalt-60 at the Salem nuclear generating station while providing safe, reliable, carbon-free electricity showcases innovative opportunities for nuclear energy and an important new role in strengthening global healthcare.”
Officials said successfully implementing the technology at Salem will lay the groundwork for broader deployment which will help anchor a scalable, resilient Cobalt-60 supply network.