13 Feb OPG’s Darlington Nuclear Unit 1 Now Producing Cobalt-60
February 13, 2025 – As part of our long-term investment initiatives, Nordion is supporting refurbishment projects at Ontario reactors producing Cobalt-60. Ontario Power Generation (OPG) is a longstanding supply partner with significant expertise in the execution of complex nuclear projects. OPG and Nordion are working on expanding production of Cobalt-60 to OPG’s Darlington Nuclear Generating Station (DNGS).
We’re happy to announce that the recently refurbished Unit 1 reactor at OPG’s Darlington Nuclear Generating Station is now producing life-saving Cobalt-60 for the world. Darlington’s new supply of Cobalt-60 will be harvested after three years of activation in the Unit 1 reactor, then delivered to Nordion to be packaged and distributed to gamma sterilization facilities worldwide.
OPG has plans to modify Darlington’s three other units to allow them to produce the isotope to help secure a stable, reliable global supply. As the four largest CANDU units in operation in terms of electrical output, DNGS has the capacity to produce enough Cobalt-60 to supply approximately 25% of current global demand.
For decades, Ontario’s CANDU reactors and their production of Cobalt-60 have helped ensure a better quality of life for millions around the world. Riaz Bandali, President of Nordion, shares, “Cobalt-60 is essential to the safety of the healthcare industry and to our mission of Safeguarding Global Health®. OPG has been a trusted partner in this mission for more than 50 years, and we are proud of what we have accomplished together at Darlington.”