The Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources and the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health, today issued the following statement:
"The Government of Canada accepts the decision of the Board of Directors of Atomic Energy of Canada (AECL) to terminate the MAPLE reactors project which was initiated in 1996 to produce medical isotopes. After 12 years, these reactors have never worked and never produced medical isotopes.
Today's decision has no impact on the supply of medical isotopes. The existing NRU facility will continue to provide a reliable and consistent supply. The Government is contacting provinces and territories and key medical experts to assure them there will be no disruption of supply.
The decision to terminate the MAPLE reactors is the result of a complete due diligence process by AECL's new management team and Board that our government appointed in January 2008. As part of this due diligence, the MAPLE project was subject to thorough testing including one in April 2008, which all failed. The Board has concluded that there is no sound reason to continue the MAPLE project.
The project has long been crippled with both technical and economic impediments, which remained unresolved. Among the many factors are:
- Regulatory challenges and commercial disputes which so far have cost hundreds of millions of dollars in private and public funds;
- Technical malfunctions that could not be resolved; and
- Reviews conducted by the Auditor General which revealed significant concerns about the costs, the delays, and the technical issues.
AECL has been asked by the Government to pursue an extension of the NRU operation beyond its current license to ensure the ongoing supply of medical isotopes.
The decision to terminate the MAPLE project is in the taxpayers' best interest and will allow AECL to focus its efforts on its existing commercial business operations that are more financially viable.
As part of a commitment to good governance, the Government of Canada is continuing with its review of AECL. This review is intended to give us the information we need to make the right decisions for the long-term future of the company."
Media may contact:
Bernadette Murphy
A/Director of Communications
Office of the Minister
Natural Resources Canada
Ottawa
613-996-2007
Rita Smith
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Health
613-957-0200
The general public may contact:
Mon-Fri, 8:30-4:30 EDT
Telephone: 613-995-0947
TTY: 613-996-4397
(teletype for the hearing-impaired)
E-mail: questions@nrcan.gc.ca
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