Pallas has chosen FCC Construcción (FCC) as the contractor for construction of the Pallas reactor at Petten in the Netherlands following a tender procedure. The Pallas reactor is intended to replace the ageing 45 MWt High Flux Reactor (HFR), operated by NRG on behalf of the European Union’s Joint Research Centre, which began operation in September 1960. While HFR has provided about 60% of European and 30% of the world's use of medical radioactive sources, the 55MWt tank-in-pool type Pallas reactor will be able to deploy the neutron flux more efficiently and effectively than the HFR.
Spain-based FCC, with more than 120 years of experience, is among the leading construction companies in Europe and globally. The coming period will be used for all the preparations necessary for the start of construction. Bertholt Leeftink, CEO NRG| Pallas: “This is an important step to realise the Pallas-reactor. The new reactor is in the interest of security of supply of medical isotopes for patients worldwide and important for maintaining the Dutch nuclear knowledge infrastructure.”
Peter Dijk, Programme Director Pallas said construction of the Pallas-reactor is a unique and complex project, for which collaboration is key. “We are convinced that we have found a competent partner in FCC.” Yago Mijangos FCC Director for Western Europe said participation in the Pallas project is “an exceptional opportunity to demonstrate our experience and capacity in designing and executing industrial infrastructures, which have a high degree of specialisation, innovation and technology”.
In January Pallas started a tender procedure for the construction of the Pallas-reactor and surrounding buildings under EU public procurement rules. Three pre-qualified candidates were approved, after a series of intense dialogues, to submit an offer. The offer from FCC was evaluated as the Most Economically Advantageous Tender.
