Summary Report of
FNCA 2013 Workshop on Research Reactor Network Project

Conclusion and Recommendation

The meeting noted the following outcomes:

1.	ANSTO's LEU Mo-99 production capacity will increase from 1000 6-day Ci/week to 3500 6-day Ci/week by the end of 2015.
2.	The demand of Mo-99 is stable or increasing in developing countries such as China, India and Bangladesh whilst the demand for Mo-99 in Japan is decreasing due to the expanding use of alternative imaging methods.
3.	PT Batan Teknologi will construct new reactor to produce Mo-99 by joint financing with US company. The reactor using liquid fuels has Mo-99 production capacity of 4400 Ci(6d)/week. Capital investment is US$165 million. The plant is scheduled to start operation in 2017 in the US.
4.	The production capacity of Mo-99 in the FNCA region will exceed 6000Ci/week by 2017, which is larger than the projected regional demand of approximately 3000Ci/week, excluding China (who were unable to attend this meeting).
5.	On this basis it is expected that these new Mo-99 production facilities will ensure the stable supply of Mo-99 in FNCA region after 2016.
6.	No near term (2014/2015) shortage of Mo-99 supply was anticipated by any of the FNCA countries. Many countries acknowledged that they currently source part of their Mo-99 requirements from countries outside the region.
7.	Member(s) commented on detrimental quality control issues experienced with certain regional supply of Mo-99, highlighting the importance of harmonization of quality of Mo-99 for enhancement of export and import in the FNCA region.

FNCA Regional network for stable supply of medical isotopes

8.	The majority of member countries have now set up national network for demand and supply of medical isotopes and each includes an identified point-of-contact. Indonesia and Malaysia are in the process of setting up their respective networks.
9.	The meeting agreed that it was important for the newly established national networks to report back to the FNCA regional network at their regular meetings.
10.	In future the FNCA regional network will provide an information exchange forum that can interface with the activities of the OECD/NEA High-Level Group on the Security and Supply of Medical Isotopes for the stable regional supply of Mo-99.
11.	The meeting recommended that Australia, Japan and Korea, each of which are members of OECD/NEA, should facilitate linking the regional FNCA network with the global NEA network on Mo-99 supply. Australia, Japan and Korea agreed to report back on information from the NEA network and also convey messages from the FNCA network as required.
12.	The meeting recognized that supply of medical isotopes is currently secured on a commercial basis without any serious obstacles.
13.	It was recommended that the FNCA network should also coordinate with the CJK (Group of CIRA, JRIA, KRIA) and WCI. The current agreement of the CJK congress will expire in 2014, and the three associations are to seriously consider whether the congress should be extended or terminated.

Construction of new research/test reactors in FNCA countries

The meeting noted the following outcomes:

Cooperation for Design, Application of Research/Test Reactor

2nd Phase of the RRN Project

Plan for 2nd Phase (2014-2016) of the RRN Project