NRU (National Research Universal)
Situated at Chalk River Laboratories in Ontario, Canada, the NRU was a heavy water research reactor with a thermal power of 135 MWth, once the world’s largest producer of Mo-99 for medical use. Its significance stems from over 60 years of contributions to isotope production, materials testing, and n
Key Stats
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NRU (National Research Universal)
Status: SHUTDOWN_PERMANENT Category: RESEARCH Country: Canada Canada Operator: canadian-nuclear-laboratories--cnl Type: Heavy water [Heavy water](/library/wiki/technologies/Heavy water) Capacity: 135 MWth (thermal only)
Overview
Situated at Chalk River Laboratories in Ontario, Canada, the NRU was a heavy water research reactor with a thermal power of 135 MWth, once the world’s largest producer of Mo-99 for medical use. Its significance stems from over 60 years of contributions to isotope production, materials testing, and neutron beam research for civilian purposes. It was permanently shut down in March 2018, marking the end of a historic era in nuclear research.
Key Facts
Notes
Chalk River Laboratories, Ontario. Shut down March 2018 after 60+ years. Was once largest producer of Mo-99 globally.
Source: IAEA PRIS / reactors_canonical · Enriched by Grok Last updated: 2026-05-10
Sources
- Wikipedia: National Research Universal Reactor — Detailed history and technical information about the NRU reactor.
- Canadian Nuclear Laboratories — Official website of the operator managing Chalk River Laboratories, where NRU was located.
- World Nuclear Association: Nuclear Power in Canada — Overview of nuclear research and power in Canada, including references to NRU.
- World Nuclear News: NRU Reactor Closes After Six Decades [UNVERIFIED] — Article covering the permanent shutdown of NRU in 2018.
Sources (1)
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