MaT – Material Treatment Building
Knowledge centre for decommissioning
An innovation hub for the development of decommissioning technology
The Material Treatment building will be a research, development and demonstration (RD&D) facility with accompanying facilities to support the innovation of decommissioning practices in Belgium. There, we will not only continue our own dismantling and decontamination activities, but we will also house several projects under the European Recovery Fund.
This means that we will also open the doors to third parties. Given the presence of both SCK CEN’s experts and specialised companies that are actively developing D&D technology, this facility will become a true Belgian innovation hub.
Starting in 2026, partners can come to MaT to:
- examine products in nuclear and non-nuclear zones;
- validate technologies for nuclear applications;
- maintain or repair contaminated equipment.📧 Want to know more? Read more here and send us a message
ANUBIS
The design and construction of the new MaT building are partly funded by the Belgian-European Economic Recovery Plan after the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, SCK CEN submitted a project related to the sustainable dismantling of the Belgian nuclear power plant. ANUBIS, as the project was dubbed, stands for Advancing NUclear dismantling in Belgium through Improving Sustainability.
From BR3 to MaT
The dismantling of BR3 (Belgian Reactor 3) is coming to an end. The reactor vessel, primary and secondary circuits, engine room, etc. have been gone for some time, and by the spring of 2023, the biological shield will also be completely gone.
Next on the dismantling calendar? The halls that have served as workshops during the demolition of the reactor to cut, decontaminate or repair materials. Those workshops must now be moved so that the demolition of BR3 can be fully completed.
Expanding knowledge in a new building
The MaT building allows us to expand our expertise in the areas of dismantling and decontamination. During the demolition of BR3, as pioneers, we built up a wealth of knowledge and experience.
Thanks to MaT, we are able to optimise these and even test new technologies. All with a view to ensuring the safest, most sustainable and most cost-efficient nuclear dismantling process possible.
Inauguration MaT building
On 16 December '24, scientists from SCK CEN granted Ketnet 'Hero' Sieg De Doncker and eighteen 10-year-olds the honour of inaugurating their brand new ‘MaT’ building. This was ‘the only, logical choice,’ the nuclear research centre said in a statement. “We actually put up this building for them,” said Didier Léonard, Director of the Sustainable Waste Management & Decommissioning Institute.
“Our mission is not to saddle future generations with the challenges of nuclear decommissioning and managing radioactive waste. We need to take action now and that's what we are doing with MaT.” Inside the MaT building, the nuclear research centre will continue and even expand its dismantling and decontamination activities.
Want to know more? Read this newarticle.