Safe export of spent fuel

ANSTO can confirm it has completed its 9^th successful export of spent fuel. The spent fuel, from OPAL, ANSTO's multipurpose reactor, has gone to France for reprocessing.

On 3-4 September the spent fuel was safely transported from ANSTO's Lucas Heights campus to Port Kembla where it was loaded onto a dedicated, nuclear category rated ship, purpose-built for nuclear shipments. It is being transferred to Orano's reprocessing facility in Normandy, France.

The operation was the result of a successful collaboration between ANSTO and multiple agencies including NSW Police Force, NSW Ambulance, NSW Fire and Rescue, Port Authority of NSW, Transport for NSW, as well as federal agencies including the Australian Federal Police, Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, the Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office, and the Department of Industry, Science and Resources.

ANSTO's multipurpose reactor, OPAL, is the fundamental starting point in the production of radioisotopes for nuclear medicines, accounting for approximately 80 per cent of the country's supply.

OPAL also enables supply of over half the world's requirements for high-quality irradiated silicon, critical in the manufacture of many green technologies.

The neutrons produced through OPAL support vital research in health, manufacturing, environment and climate change, benefiting Australians, and the international science and industry communities.