Minister Hermans visits the PALLAS reactor construction site in Petten
On 27 May, Sophie Hermans, Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport, visited NRG PALLAS and the construction site of the new PALLAS reactor in Petten. The visit put the spotlight firmly on the vital role nuclear medicine plays in healthcare today — and will play in the healthcare of tomorrow. It also provided an opportunity to discuss the contribution NRG PALLAS makes to appropriate care for patients in the Netherlands, across Europe and around the world.
Minister Hermans underlined the international importance of medical isotopes and the key role the Netherlands plays in their supply: “Medical isotopes help detect and treat serious diseases such as cancer. These radioactive substances are vital for around 48 million patients worldwide every year. The Netherlands plays a key role in this: one of only six nuclear reactors in the world producing these isotopes is located here. That is why we are building a new reactor in Petten: PALLAS. It is good for our healthcare system, because it ensures Dutch hospitals continue to have access to these essential resources. It is good for our independence, because it makes us less dependent on other countries. And it is good for our economy and our knowledge base, because the Netherlands is at the forefront of nuclear innovation. In doing so, we strengthen our healthcare, our economy and our energy ambitions all at once.”
Building the future of medical care in the Netherlands was at the heart of the visit. Minister Hermans personally helped install part of the rebar reinforcement in the construction pit (see photo). This symbolic act represents connection, collaboration and the shared commitment needed to deliver public infrastructure for medical care and nuclear research. It also marks the start of a new tradition: politicians, policymakers and directors visiting the construction site will be invited to make their own contribution to the reinforcement work.
The development of the PALLAS reactor will help safeguard the continued production of medical isotopes while strengthening the Netherlands’ position as a centre of knowledge, innovation and economic growth. The project therefore makes a major contribution to the healthcare of the future, to employment and to further innovation in the nuclear sector. Minister Hermans’ visit underlines the importance of cooperation and commitment in realising this project of significant public value.
