The Belgian Government gives its go ahead for the MYRRHA project

2010-03-09

An essential decision for the start of this international project

The Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK•CEN, welcomed on March 4th the decision of the Belgian federal government to financially support the MYRRHA project. From 2022-2023 onwards, MYRRHA will contribute to the development of innovative solutions in the field of nuclear technologies, medical applications, nuclear industry and renewable energy sources.

MYRRHA is a multi-disciplinary research infrastructure, unique in the world that will be used for research on the treatment of nuclear spent fuel. Due to its specific characteristics, MYRRHA will also be at the forefront of materials research, which is necessary a.o. for the development of future energy systems.

MYRRHA will be a key tool for the advancement of research and development for treatment (transmutation) of highly radioactive nuclear spent fuel. Transmutation consists in the conversion by fission of long-lived nuclear spent fuel into less radio-toxic substances. MYRRHA is the world's first demonstrator of an accelerator driven system (ADS) aiming at the transmutation of nuclear spent fuel. This research on transmutation complements the decision in favour of the geological disposal by reducing volume, radiotoxicity and thermal load of the nuclear waste.

In addition to its role in transmutation related research, MYRRHA will also contribute to secure the supply of medical radioisotopes. In 2010, the current research reactor of SCK•CEN (BR2, the Belgian Reactor 2), will account for 25 % of the global production of radioisotopes. By building a new research infrastructure to replace BR2, Belgium will consolidate its current key role in the research on and production of medical radioisotopes in the context of a worldwide growing demand.

Further to its contribution to the scientific challenges of the future, MYRRHA will induce a strong socio-economic impact. The total economic impact of the MYRRHA project (period 2010-2050) has been evaluated to be about 13 billion euros. Every euro invested in the project will lead to an economic return of 5.5 euros. The implementation of the MYRRHA infrastructure combined with the strategic plan of SCK•CEN (growth of the organisation, attraction of foreign researchers, creation of employment in high technology companies in the vicinity of SCK•CEN,...), will contribute to the creation of 2,000 lasting jobs.

"We take this opportunity to thank all persons who have contributed during so many years to trigger this decision", says Eric van Walle, Director-General of SCK•CEN. "Our first priorities are now to establish and consolidate the international project consortium, to obtain the required permits and licenses in time, and to implement the R&D support program, as to start construction works in 2015. Our objective is to have the MYRRHA research reactor operational in 2022-2023."

For more information please visit: http://myrrha.sckcen.be

Prof. Dr Hamid Aït Abderrahim, , +32 14 33 34 00
Director of the Institute of Advanced Nuclear Systems of SCK•CEN and director of the MYRRHA project

Anne Verledens, , +32 14 33 25 86

Cathy Schoels, , +32 477 680 280