Libya Plans to Restore Tajoura Research Reactor for Medical Isotope Production

The Libyan Atomic Energy Establishment recently proposed a plan to restore and restart the Tajoura nuclear research reactor for the production of medical radioisotopes. The establishment stated that this initiative aims to support the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and tumors, while reducing dependence on imports of relevant isotopes.

Radioisotopes are essential materials in nuclear medicine, serving as tracers in medical imaging to help track organ function and detect certain diseases and tumors; some isotopes are also used in radiotherapy targeting specific tissues.

According to the Libyan Atomic Energy Establishment, the Tajoura reactor has a rated thermal power of 10 megawatts and holds potential for producing various medical isotopes, including those related to technetium-99m production. Technetium-99m is widely used in single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging and is one of the commonly used radionuclides in nuclear medicine diagnostics.

The establishment also emphasized that the reactor's 10-megawatt installed capacity does not directly determine whether it can produce isotopes or the specific output. Isotope production also depends on multiple technical conditions. Before the reactor can be restarted, studies covering technical, safety, economic, and regulatory aspects must be completed, infrastructure conditions must be reassessed, and safety and licensing requirements must be ensured.