Belgian research centre to develop lead-cooled small nuclear reactor in Mol
On Tuesday, SCK CEN, the Belgian research centre for nuclear energy, signed a cooperation agreement with several international partners to develop a new small nuclear reactor in Belgium. The project aims to build a test facility in Mol, Flanders, by 2034.
The agreement brings together SCK CEN with its Italian and Romanian counterparts ENEA and RATEN, the French company Newcleo and Italy’s Ansaldo Nucleare. Together, they plan to develop a lead-cooled small modular reactor (SMR). SMRs produce less power than large nuclear plants, but are generally simpler and cheaper to build.
Cooling the reactor with lead instead of water, as is standard in most existing reactors, is expected to improve efficiency and reduce the volume of nuclear waste. The collaboration was announced last year but has now been formalised in an agreement with binding commitments.
Construction will take place in phases. The first structure is scheduled to be completed by 2034 at the SCK CEN site in Mol. The reactor will function as a research and testing facility and as a technology demonstrator. The partners aim to deploy and commission the first commercial SMR in 2039.
More than just research
"This is more than a research project," said SCK CEN director-general Peter Baeten. He described it as "a concrete project that supports Europe’s future energy security and innovation capacity".
The agreement as "an important milestone for our country and for the future of energy in Europe," said Federal Energy minister Mathieu Bihet, who was present at the signing. He stressed the importance of European cooperation and energy independence, which he said has become even more critical amid geopolitical uncertainty.
#FlandersNewsService | The SCK CEN nuclear research centre in Mol. © BELGA PHOTO ROBBE VANDEGEHUCHTE
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