Press Release
Nuclear Energy Act licence PALLAS-reactor issued
15 February 2023
Today, 15 February 2023, the Nuclear and Radiation Protection Authority (ANVS) has granted the Nuclear Energy Act licence for the construction of the PALLAS-reactor. After a long preliminary process during which all safety documentation was assessed by the ANVS, PALLAS submitted the applications to the ANVS and the Department of Public Works on 15 June 2022. PALLAS is therefore very pleased with this new milestone which marks another step towards the realisation of the PALLAS-reactor.
Rijkswaterstaat has also issued the Water Act permit for the intake and discharge of cooling water. With these permits coming into effect, the permit under the Environmental Law (General Provisions) Act for the construction of the buildings and cooling water pipes will also come into force.
Every day, 30,000 patients depend on the production of medical radioisotopes from Petten in North Holland. This number is expected to increase due to the introduction new treatments with medical isotopes from reactors and the growth in the number of patients with cancer and cardiovascular diseases worldwide. PALLAS has therefore taken the initiative to build the PALLAS reactor in Petten. Obtaining the permits is an important milestone in the realisation of the reactor.
The decision on funding for the overall PALLAS programme is currently being debated by the government and is expected to be made this year. The Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport has instructed PALLAS to continue with project preparations to avoid unnecessary delays. This means that preparations for the realisation of the construction pit will continue pending a final funding decision from the Dutch government. The official letter from the minister can be accessed here.
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