“The contract concerns the design of a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR – PAP). Such a research reactor is currently operating in Japan. In cooperation with the Japanese side, we want to design such a reactor for the needs of Świerk” – said National Center for Nuclear Research (NCBJ) Krzysztof Kurek.
The contract for the design of a gas-cooled high-temperature HTGR reactor was signed on 12 May in Świerk by the head of MEiN Przemysław Czarnek with the director of the National Center for Nuclear Research (NCBJ) Krzysztof Kurek. The ministry will allocate PLN 60 million for this purpose.
He emphasized that it is not only a research reactor for the institute, but is intended to be a technology demonstrator.
Kurek said that in his opinion nuclear technologies are the future for Poland. “This is an excellent source of all types of energy and it is worth using these technologies” – he added. He added that in many areas “the world has moved a bit away from Poland”. “And not in nuclear technologies. Here we have a chance to be at the forefront all the time,” he said.
The Minister of Science, Przemysław Czarnek, said that he decided to allocate PLN 60 million in the perspective of 2024 to the technical description of this type of research reactor 4 weeks after taking up his position.
Currently, the only nuclear reactor in Poland is operating in Świerk. The head of NCBJ, Krzysztof Kurek, asked by PAP whether this means that it will be shut down after the construction of the high-temperature reactor, denied it. “Absolutely not. The Maria reactor is in very good shape. It is a modular reactor that is modernized almost every year and which, if there are no problems with the concretes that were poured in 1974 (…) – for now it looks like that it was done very well, this reactor will work for at least 10 more years, if not more “- he assured.
Kurek added that the Maria reactor is a very valuable device, because apart from scientific research, it is the main source of radiopharmaceuticals production, which – as he said – save lives, because drugs against cancer are produced on the basis of radioisotopes produced in this reactor (PAP).