PSEG Nuclear LLC, Westinghouse Electric Company and Nordion (Canada) Inc., a Sotera Health company, have announced key milestones in their joint initiative to establish the first commercial-scale production of Cobalt-60 in U.S. Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs).
Cobalt-60 is a critical isotope used to sterilize more than 16 billion single-use medical devices each year in the United States, deliver life-saving cancer treatments through stereotactic radiosurgery and enhance food safety through irradiation.
The first commercial-scale implementation of Cobalt-60 production in PWRs signals a transformative step toward a secure, diversified domestic Cobalt-60 supply.
“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 health care.”
Milestone achievements include:
- Long-term commercial agreements supporting deployment at PSEG’s Salem nuclear generating station – Westinghouse, Nordion and PSEG have entered into long-term agreements to implement newly developed Cobalt-60 production technology for PWRs at PSEG’s Salem nuclear generating station (Units 1 and 2), with Cobalt-60 planned to be supplied to Nordion.
- NRC review underway; parties target 2026 implementation – The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is reviewing PSEG’s License Amendment Request (LAR). The parties are targeting implementation of the technology in 2026, subject to NRC authorization and plant operating schedules.
“Creating a robust domestic source of Cobalt-60 builds on our long-standing ability to ensure reliability of supply for our customers,” said Riaz Bandali, president of Nordion.
“Our collaboration with Westinghouse and PSEG comes at a critical time, as demand for Cobalt-60 is increasing while accelerator-based irradiation technology is facing significant challenges in deployment and adoption.”
“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,” said Sophie Lemaire, Interim co-president of Westinghouse Nuclear Fuel.
“This advancement strengthens global supply and demonstrates how commercial nuclear energy can support critical health care infrastructure.”
The successful implementation of this technology at Salem will lay the groundwork for broader deployment across the global PWR fleet, which makes up more than 70% of the world’s commercial reactors, and will help anchor a scalable, resilient Cobalt-60 supply network.
