NRG starts permit granting procedure for PALLAS

Monday, Nov 23, 2009

This week NRG will submit a Pre-starting Note for the environmental impact assessment report for PALLAS to the Dutch Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment (VROM). This is the first step in the procedure to request a permit for the construction and exploitation of a new and modern research reactor, named PALLAS that will replace the High Flux Reactor(HFR). PALLAS will secure the production of isotopes for medical applications. Moreover, PALLAS will allow high quality scientific and applied (nuclear) research to be continued and expanded.

Throughout the world, nuclear research reactors conduct important and pioneering research work into our current and future energy systems. Some of these reactors produce medical isotopes that are essential for diagnosis and therapy in Nuclear Medicine. The HFR is one of the most important research facilities and producers of isotopes in the world. The reactor was designed in the 1950s and entered into operation in 1961. Since then the reactor has been modernized several times.

The main elements in the design of the new PALLAS reactor are safety, reliability, flexibility and efficiency of operation. The Netherlands will ensure the continuity of their nuclear research, increase the security of supply of medical isotopes and extend their strong position held in these two globally developing markets.

At the moment there are two suitable locations for PALLAS in the Netherlands: Petten in the northwest region (North Holland) and Borssele in the southwest region (Zeeland). Boundary conditions set by the Dutch government and business economic considerations will play an important role in the final decision about the location.

The aim is to put PALLAS into operation in 2016, this will be subject to the financial options and planning procedures.

For further information please contact Juliëtte van der Laan at NRG Communications, telephone number +31 224 564967 or mobile +31 6 10148943, e-mail info@nrg.eu.

 

Source: NRG