NRG PALLAS was supposed to notify the ANVS before implementing organisational changes, but failed to do so. Such changes can affect the safety of a facility. This course of action also made our oversight harder. There is no immediate danger to people or the environment. On 15 July 2026, we imposed an order for a financial penalty order (‘last onder dwangsom’) on NRG PALLAS for its violation. While the violation has meanwhile been resolved, the penalty is also intended to prevent future violations.
NRG PALLAS organisational change
NRG PALLAS holds the licence for multiple nuclear facilities in Petten. NRG PALLAS’s activities in Petten include the construction of the PALLAS reactor. This reactor is the successor to Petten’s High Flux Reactor (HFR), which producesradioactive materials for use in nuclear medicine (medical isotopes). NRG PALLAS was created through a merger between several organisations. To streamline its operations, NRG PALLAS decided to combine various services into a new department.
Notification requirement due to nuclear safety
As specified in the licences held by NRG PALLAS, organisational changes with safety implications must be presented to the ANVS first. NRG PALLAS has not always done so in recent years. The organisation acknowledges this. Such notifications are important to be able to check whether an organisational change could affect nuclear safety at a facility.
Original violation resolved
The violation also makes it harder for us to oversee this aspect of nuclear safety. We therefore imposed a financial penalty order on NRG PALLAS. This means NRG PALLAS must pay a penalty if the situation is not resolved within the stated time frame or if the violation is repeated.
NRG PALLAS rectified its violation within the allotted time. It assessed the organisational change according to applicable procedures and notified the ANVS of this fact. As a result, NRG PALLAS is no longer obliged to pay the incremental penalty.
Incremental penalty to discourage repeat violations
We want to ensure that in future, NRG PALLAS follows the correct procedures before implementing organisational changes with possible nuclear safety implications. The financial penalty order is also intended to prevent any repeat violations. NRG PALLAS is obliged to notify us of organisational changes with nuclear safety implications according to their own procedures from now on. If that does not happen, NRG PALLAS must pay a penalty. After a year without violations (and thus without a penalty being forfeit), NRG PALLAS can request that the order for the incremental penalty be lifted. This is in accordance with the General Administrative Law Act.