In June 2022, NRG-Pallas applied to the Dutch regulator, the Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (ANVS), for a permit to build and operate the Pallas reactor. The ANVS issued a construction license in February 2023, enabling groundwork to begin in May 2023. Belgian construction firm Besix, contracted in November 2022, has overseen the initial phases, including creating a 50-by-50-meter, 17.5-meter-deep construction pit. This involved digging 30 trenches to form concrete “diaphragm walls,” reinforced with 380 bored piles and connected by a ring beam at the top.
The foundation work includes laying 790 tonnes of steel reinforcement bars at the pit’s base, followed by pouring a 1.5-meter-thick concrete layer across the entire surface in five stages. NRG-Pallas noted: “In coming months, the site will keep transforming: the construction staff office for 250 people will be installed, first works on the Pallas reactor, and its secondary cooling system building will commence.”
While funding has been allocated for the project, the Dutch government has not yet finalized its decision on construction. Progress depends on parliamentary approval for a new state-owned company, with the European Commission having approved a €2 billion ($2.2 billion) investment under EU state aid rules. Former Minister of Health, Welfare, and Sport Ernst Kuipers directed NRG-Pallas to avoid irreversible steps but continue preparations to minimize delays.
In January 2023, NRG-Pallas initiated a tender process under EU public procurement rules, selecting three candidates to bid for constructing the reactor and surrounding buildings. In December, Spanish firm FCC Construcción secured the contract. The Pallas reactor, a “tank-in-pool” design with a thermal power of approximately 55 MW, will replace the 45 MW High Flux Reactor (HFR), operational since 1960. The HFR, managed by NRG for the EU’s Joint Research Centre, produces about 60% of Europe’s and 30% of the world’s medical radioisotopes.
Designed for greater efficiency, Pallas will support research and isotope production, continuing Petten’s legacy as a hub for nuclear innovation. The project reflects a commitment to advancing clean energy and medical technologies while ensuring operational reliability.
