Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall said Thursday the production of medical isotopes, produced by nuclear reactors for use in many diagnostic procedures, is a possibility.

However, pursuing that option would depend on the outcome of current consultations in the province.

Wall was reacting to comments from Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who said Wednesday that Canada would be getting out of the business of supplying isotopes, in light of problems with the Chalk River, Ont., reactor.

"I think we can provide some real answers to the world on the isotope issue," Wall told reporters in Saskatoon on Thursday. "I am waiting to hear from Saskatchewan people as well, but I would say I have an interest in it very much."

Public consultations on the development of Saskatchewan's uranium resource are taking place, chaired by Dan Perrins, a former top civil servant in the province.

Perrins is soliciting feedback on a recent report outlining potential areas for advancing the uranium industry beyond mining.

The report devotes an entire section on a discussion of medical isotopes, including an explanation on how the product is produced and used.

However, the report concludes that a dedicated nuclear reactor to produce only medical isotopes would not be feasible.

"Although medical isotope production provides an attractive source of revenue for a research reactor, the economics of a stand-alone isotope reactor are not attractive," the report, prepared by a committee of people with connections to the uranium industry, said.

The report recommends seeking federal government support for a research reactor, with a medical isotope production component "as part of the reactor's mandate."

The report suggested that a research reactor could earn $9 million in profit per year.

The report did cite a potential stumbling block to the concept: Saskatchewan would need to find a way to quickly transport the isotopes to other locations for further processing. The shipping time would have to be less than three hours.