WRITTEN QUESTION E-0457/02

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(22 February 2002)

Subject: Alternatives to recommissioning the High Flux Reactor in Petten, the Netherlands, and the production of anti-cancer agents

1. Is the Commission aware that, over the years, the role of the High Flux Reactor (HFR) of the European Community's Joint Research Centre (JRC) near the village of Petten in the Netherlands has changed substantially, so that whereas it used to be a research installation (concerned with the safety of nuclear power stations, storage and reduction of radioactive waste and materials research) it now concentrates on commercial production of radioisotopes for the treatment of cancer patients by TVCO Healthcare/Mallinkcrodt, and that, precisely because of this commercial approach, safety standards are now coming under pressure?

2. In view of the criticisms of this situation, will the Commission take measures to secure the abandonment of the commercial approach to the production of isotopes at Petten?

3. What conditions should apply to the possible impending recommissioning of the reactor? Should the JRC's licence be subject to more stringent conditions, and if so, in what respects?

4. Would low-enriched uranium be a possible alternative to highly-enriched uranium for use in the treatment of cancer patients? Would the installation be economically viable if such a general switch were to be made?

5. In view of the major changes which have occurred in the prospects for the future role and use of nuclear energy since the early days of the Petten research centre, will the Commission reconsider the rationale for the centre's continued existence, in view inter alia of the risks to local residents and to the protected environment of the North Sea coast?

6. What is the Commission's view of the reactor's future, bearing in mind, inter alia, the desire of Greenpeace and others to see it closed down not just temporarily but permanently?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(7 May 2002)

1. The Commission is fully aware that over the years the role of the High Flux Reactor (HFR) has significantly changed. It is on purpose, with the full support of the three Members States that are co-funding the HFR Supplementary Programme and the blessing of the Council that it had been reoriented from pure nuclear research to the production of radioisotopes. This activity covers about 30 to 40 % of the budget of HFR and represents more or less two-thirds of the needs of European hospitals and medical research centres. This production is certainly essential, but the Commission has always considered that safety should be the number one priority and should never be threatened by any commercial interest or pressure.

2. It is true that there have been criticisms of the safety culture of the operating agent of the HFR. The Commission, which is the license holder, has therefore, in full agreement with the Dutch Safety Authorities (Kernfysische Dienst (KFD)), asked the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to make a review on this very issue. It took place from 3 to 8 March 2002. On Friday 8 March, the IAEA presented the principal findings and recommendations to the licence holder Joint Research Center (JRC) and KFD. Several elements of the safety management system were highlighted for corrective actions. These actions include improved and more frequent training of personnel, improved communication channels, a tightening of the monitoring and review procedures, and an in depth review of the licence. These are to be implemented by the operator (NRG), in some cases together with JRC. A proposal for the implementation of the above recommendations has now been approved by the KFD. The JRC will monitor closely the progress of implementation by the Nuclear Research and Consultancy Group (NRG) in order to ensure the continued safe operation of the reactor.

3. In addition to the IAEA safety review Serco Assurance has performed an independent assessment of the lifetime of the HFR vessel with respect to the presence of a welding defect indication in the vessel of the HFR. On Tuesday 19th March 2002 the report from Serco was made available. In the report the following statement is made: Serco is satisfied on technical grounds that the HFR may be restarted for a period of operation until the summer of 2003 (when the next in-service inspection is planned). However, several recommendations were made including the development of a validated in-service inspection programme, further analysis of the stress conditions of the defect indications, and material properties should be further verified using archive material. A detailed action plan will be produced to demonstrate how the above recommendations will be implemented.

4. The Commission has already decided, jointly with the Dutch Authorities, to convert the HFR from highly enriched fuel to low enriched after an in-depth study that demonstrated that such a conversion will only affect to a minor extent the irradiation capacity of the reactor. The production of radioisotopes will not bear any negative consequences from the conversion.

5. The activities of the Institute for Energy of the Joint Research Centre located in Petten can be subdivided into three major parts:

- nuclear safety research activities, partially independent from the HFR, funded through the 5th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (RTD), covering roughly 40 % of the activities;

- non-nuclear research activities funded through the 5th Framework Programme for RTD, covering roughly 30 % of the activities;

- the management of the High Flux Reactor, funded though a supplementary programme in which participate Germany, France and Netherlands, covering roughly 30 % of the activities

The main objective of the nuclear research activities is to study the safe operation and nuclear waste reduction of existing nuclear power plants (including those of the Eastern European countries that will join the Union in the coming years). In this respect the Institute for Energy provides also technical and scientific support to the TACIS and PHARE programmes.

The main objective of the non-nuclear research activities is to assess and validate new and cleaner energy technologies in the areas of energy from waste and biomass, fuel cell performance and hydrogen as energy carrier and storage and distribution of alternative fuels.

Finally, it should be stressed that the operation of the High Flux Reactor is under the full control of the Dutch Safety Authorities.

6. The Dutch Safety Authorities, in the light of the outcome of the external audit and review conducted by IAEA and Serco Assurance, concluded that the reactor could continue to be operated safely. Therefore, the decision was taken, in agreement with KFD to restart the reactor on 22 March 2002.