The renewal is the longest duration licence issued to the McMaster Nuclear Reactor in its history. Photo Credit: McMaster University.
The nuclear reactor operating at Hamilton’s McMaster University has been granted a 20-year renewal of its licence by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), Canada’s nuclear materials regulator.
The university calls the reactor “Canada’s most-powerful nuclear research reactor.”
Beyond research, the reactor, which was built in 1959, is also one of the world’s leading suppliers of iodine-125, a medical isotope used to treat some types of cancer.
Dave Tucker, McMaster’s Chief Nuclear Officer and Associate Vice-President – Nuclear, says that the licence renewal allows the university to continue their healthcare, materials science, and clean energy research.
“For 65 years, the McMaster Nuclear Reactor has been a pivotal resource for research on clean energy, health and medicine, materials science and much more,” he said.
“We’re grateful to the CNSC for granting this licence renewal, which speaks volumes to MNR’s excellence in safety culture and continued contributions to scientific discovery on a national and global scale.”
Nuclear industry leaders across the world reportedly sent letters in support of McMaster’s successful licence renewal.
The university partners with both industry and academia, with other projects including the testing of engine turbine blades for commercial aircraft, studying nuclear power plant components for lifecycle optimization, and advancing radiopharmaceuticals.
The length of the renewal is also of note, with the university calling the 20-year relicensing “a historic milestone.”
The renewal is the longest duration licence issued to the McMaster Nuclear Reactor in its history.
The last licence it received, in 2014, was only for 10 years.
The CNSC regularly inspects operations to ensure that the facility and staff meet radiation safety requirements.
Tucker notes that “over 4,000 visitors toured the reactor in the past year alone.”
“This renewal will ensure the facility is available to future generations of nuclear leaders and visitors from Canada and around the world who are interested in exploring how nuclear science can support a cleaner, healthier future.”
In March 2024, the reactor expanded its operations to 24 hours a day, five days a week.
The reactor had previously been operating 16 hours a day, five days a week.
The expansion followed a six-week pilot project in October and November 2023 and $6.8 million from both the Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada.
The pilot was part of a $25 million project to optimise the reactor’s operations and increase the diversity and quantity of isotopes produced.
McMaster continues to be Canada’s largest research reactor and its medical isotopes treat approximately 70,000 cancer patients every year.
Based in Hamilton, he reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. He has been published in The Hamilton Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 Hamilton. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
