IAEA reviewed PALLAS organisation at request of ANVS
A team of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) visited the PALLAS reactor construction site in Petten and the PALLAS office in Alkmaar at the request of the ANVS. Their mission was to review the safety aspects of the PALLAS construction programme for compliance with IAEA safety requirements. Following the visit, the IAEA concluded that the PALLAS organisation is closely aligned to IAEA safety standards. The team also made several recommendations.
Independent safety review
The foundation of a nuclear facility’s safety lies in its design and construction. In addition to the building, the organisation, expertise and quality of work must also fulfil a wide range of requirements. The IAEA Safety Review mission assessed all these safety aspects of PALLAS (in Dutch), a new research reactor which is currently under construction. The IAEA team spent over a week looking at these aspects in their capacity as independent international experts. “Mission teams bring diverse experience from other countries that facilities can learn from,” says Bernd Keller, director of the Competent Authority department of the ANVS. “That is tremendously valuable.”
PALLAS adopts key learning points
In the case of PALLAS, the IAEA gave recommendations and proposals for several areas, including the design and construction programme, safety documents, organisational and management, and training and qualification programmes. These recommendations by the IAEA are intended to ensure that safety continues to be emphasised throughout the design and construction of the reactor. PALLAS is leveraging the IAEA’s insights to make process improvements, while the ANVS is closely tracking the progress being made.
Medical applications
The PALLAS research reactor will produce medical isotopes, which hospitals can use to treat cancer patients, for example. The reactor can also help to advance medical research. Once the PALLAS reactor is operational it will replace the current High Flux Reactor (in Dutch), although there is still considerable work to be completed. In June 2024, the building contractor drove the final foundation piles for the reactor, paving the way for the reactor’s construction in the next phase.
More missions in 2024
Four missions are scheduled for 2024 at nuclear facilities, including the High Flux Reactor in Petten and the Borssele nuclear power plant. While the main focus of these missions is on the facilities, they are always valuable to the ANVS as well. “We are constantly evolving in our role as a regulatory body,” Bernd says. “We benefit greatly from mission recommendations and the sharing of knowledge and experience. With so much happening internationally in our field, we value insights from our colleagues abroad. These insights help to drive our commitment to continuous safety improvement in the Netherlands.”