Petten nuclear reactor

[1] The HFR’s original purpose was to provide experience and irradiation capabilities for the nascent Dutch nuclear power program.

However, in 1959 ACF sold its nuclear division to Allis-Chalmers,[3] who took over the project and commissioned the reactor, reaching criticality two years behind schedule on November 9th, 1961.

Apart from its function as a research centre, the HFR is a large producer of radioactive material for the purpose of medical diagnosis and the treatment of cancer (radiopharmaceuticals).

[4][5] Also at the high flux reactor, one of the neutron beam channels, which was originally installed for performing fundamental research, has been specially modified for the direct irradiation of patients.

As a result of political pressure from the United States and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), research reactors are no longer allowed to use highly enriched uranium fuel because of its potential use for the production of nuclear weapons.

In 2009 the Argentine company INVAP (teamed with Spanish group Isolux) was pre selected in the international tender for the PALLAS project, for the procurement of an 80 MW nuclear reactor for the Dutch village of Petten,[12] but in February 2010, the Dutch radiopharmaceutical producer Nuclear Research and Consultancy Group (NRG) extended the preparatory phase up to end of the year for financing [13] In mid-May 2014, NRG, the company that operates the reactor, asked for a bridging loan at the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, because of the financial losses in the previous years.