May 12, 2025
Foundation established for a new Dutch research reactor.
The construction pit and foundation for the Pallas research reactor building in Petten, Netherlands, have been completed, and preparations are now underway to begin constructing the reactor building itself.
In June 2022, NRG-Pallas applied to the Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection for a permit to construct and operate the Pallas reactor, which was granted in February 2023. Preparatory work started in May 2023, conducted by Belgian construction firm Besix under a contract awarded in November 2022.
The construction pit, measuring approximately 50 by 50 meters and 17.5 meters deep, has been completed, involving the digging of 30 trenches for the diaphragm walls, which are reinforced with 380 bored piles. An underwater concrete floor 1.5 meters thick has been laid, topped with a 50 by 50 meter reinforced foundation slab of the same thickness.
Nic De Roeck, managing director of Besix Nederland, praised the project's challenges, highlighting the need for expertise in both technical and security aspects due to the nuclear site and surrounding dune area. He expressed satisfaction with the collaboration with NRG-Pallas and partners.
Peter Dijk, program director at NRG-Pallas, noted that completing the pit and foundation marks a significant step toward realizing the Pallas reactor, which is vital for producing medical isotopes.
Currently, NRG-Pallas, alongside main contractor FCC Construcción and designer ICHOS, is preparing for the next phase of the project. Last month, FCC Construcción formalized a contract with NRG-Pallas to advance the project, detailing the scope, schedule, budget, and technical solutions for the initial phase of construction.
The construction site is being reorganized to enable work on the lower reactor section later this year, with preparations also underway for installing the cooling water pipeline, which will draw water from the North Holland Canal and discharge it into the sea.
Although funding has been allocated for the Pallas reactor's construction, the Dutch government has yet to make a final decision. The European Commission has approved the Dutch government's plan to invest EUR2 billion (USD2.2 billion) in the project.
Former Minister Ernst Kuipers instructed NRG-Pallas to avoid irreversible steps but continue preparations to prevent delays.
The Pallas reactor is set to replace the existing High Flux Reactor (HFR) at Petten. The HFR, which has been operating since 1960, has shifted from testing nuclear materials to fundamental research and producing medical radioisotopes. It has historically supplied about 60% of Europe’s and 30% of the world's medical radioactive sources.
The new Pallas reactor will be of the "tank-in-pool" type, with a thermal power of around 55 MW, enabling more efficient neutron flux deployment than the HFR.
In June 2022, NRG-Pallas applied to the Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection for a permit to construct and operate the Pallas reactor, which was granted in February 2023. Preparatory work started in May 2023, conducted by Belgian construction firm Besix under a contract awarded in November 2022.
The construction pit, measuring approximately 50 by 50 meters and 17.5 meters deep, has been completed, involving the digging of 30 trenches for the diaphragm walls, which are reinforced with 380 bored piles. An underwater concrete floor 1.5 meters thick has been laid, topped with a 50 by 50 meter reinforced foundation slab of the same thickness.
Nic De Roeck, managing director of Besix Nederland, praised the project's challenges, highlighting the need for expertise in both technical and security aspects due to the nuclear site and surrounding dune area. He expressed satisfaction with the collaboration with NRG-Pallas and partners.
Peter Dijk, program director at NRG-Pallas, noted that completing the pit and foundation marks a significant step toward realizing the Pallas reactor, which is vital for producing medical isotopes.
Currently, NRG-Pallas, alongside main contractor FCC Construcción and designer ICHOS, is preparing for the next phase of the project. Last month, FCC Construcción formalized a contract with NRG-Pallas to advance the project, detailing the scope, schedule, budget, and technical solutions for the initial phase of construction.
The construction site is being reorganized to enable work on the lower reactor section later this year, with preparations also underway for installing the cooling water pipeline, which will draw water from the North Holland Canal and discharge it into the sea.
Although funding has been allocated for the Pallas reactor's construction, the Dutch government has yet to make a final decision. The European Commission has approved the Dutch government's plan to invest EUR2 billion (USD2.2 billion) in the project.
Former Minister Ernst Kuipers instructed NRG-Pallas to avoid irreversible steps but continue preparations to prevent delays.
The Pallas reactor is set to replace the existing High Flux Reactor (HFR) at Petten. The HFR, which has been operating since 1960, has shifted from testing nuclear materials to fundamental research and producing medical radioisotopes. It has historically supplied about 60% of Europe’s and 30% of the world's medical radioactive sources.
The new Pallas reactor will be of the "tank-in-pool" type, with a thermal power of around 55 MW, enabling more efficient neutron flux deployment than the HFR.