Unique infrastrcuture
The Energy & Health Campus in Petten is home to a unique combination of nuclear installations. Over the past 60 years, the site has expanded and acquired international allure. With the knowledge developed in these nuclear research facilities and the continuous production of medical isotopes, our services and products are literally lifesaving.
The High Flux Reactor
The High Flux Reactor (HFR) is one of the few reactors in the world that specialises in the production of nuclear medicine (medical isotopes).
Medical isotopes are vital for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. The High Flux Reactor (HFR) in Petten supplies two-thirds of Europe’s demand for these isotopes. On a global scale, NRG PALLAS holds a leading position in the market, accounting for 30% of worldwide production. In the Netherlands, 80% of the medical isotopes used in hospitals originate from Petten.
Each day, raw materials for nuclear medicine are produced for 30,000 patients suffering from cancer or other life-threatening conditions. In addition to its role in healthcare, the reactor is extensively used for research into safe and innovative nuclear energy technologies, including studies on thorium reactors.
Operational since 1961, the HFR is now approaching the end of its service life. The new PALLAS reactor is set to take over its functions after 2030. Until then, it is essential that the HFR continues to operate safely and reliably to ensure the uninterrupted supply of medical isotopes. To this end, specific policies have been implemented to manage ageing infrastructure, minimise the risk of unforeseen incidents, and enable swift and effective responses to unexpected events.
FIELD-LAB
FIELD-LAB is a medicine discovery facility that will help to speed up the development and market launch of new nuclear drugs for cancer treatment. Through supply of small batches of radio chemicals and radio pharmaceuticals, we meet the need of Bio Pharma scientists and start-up ventures for research materials. This will drive both their ambitions to develop a new medicine. There are also several radiological laboratories for a variety of activities.
Hot Cell Laboratories
Hot Cell Laboratories (HCL) are used to study or process radioactive materials. If a product is irradiated for research in the HFR, it becomes radioactive. Due to the high radiation levels, you can then no longer handle it with bare hands. It is therefore further examined or processed in a so-called hot cell. Our employees work safely using telemanipulators behind lead glass.
From analysis and measurement to decontamination and disposal
Various facilities are in place to comply with all the laws and regulations associated with our special activities. For the safety of our employees and the environment, we continuously analyse samples from our operating processes. Think of measurements in wastewater, basin water and air.
The Decontamination & Waste Treatment (DWT) is used to clean radioactively contaminated materials. These are the installation parts of nuclear facilities from Petten, but sometimes also from off-shore oil and gas extraction. In these offshore installations, natural radioactivity has accumulated that has come up from deep underground. We clean the contaminated materials. The radioactive waste is separated, collected, packaged and transported to COVRA (Central Organisation for Radioactive Waste) in Borsele.
