The Nuclear Research and Consultancy Group (NRG) of Petten, the Netherlands, has joined the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) and the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK-CEN) to create the European Research Area of Experimental Reactors (ERAER).
ERAER is designed to guide future activities of research reactors in Europe and to ensure adequate supplies of the radioisotope molybdenum-99 -- a precursor to technetium-99m, which is widely used in medical imaging procedures.
Under the collaboration, the Jules Horowitz Reactor (JHR) in Cadarache, France, currently being constructed, would become a high-performance materials testing reactor. The MYRRHA reactor in Mol, Belgium, would become a fast-spectrum irradiation research facility, and NRG's Pallas reactor, also under development, would become the main European producer for medical isotopes.
The operators noted that the ERAER is the only way to maintain Europe's global position in the field of reactor technology and to secure energy supply and modern health needs.
Related Reading
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Covidien warns of Tc-99m shortfall, September 2, 2010
AECL's NRU resumes operation, September 2, 2010
Report: Senator delays isotope bill, July 23, 2010
SNM: Long-term Mo-99 problems remain, July 8, 2010
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