NEA Director-General William D. Magwood, IV and Mathieu Bihet, Minister of Energy of Belgium
NEA Director-General William D. Magwood, IV visited Belgium in November to engage with key stakeholders in the nuclear sector on topics including long-term operation of existing reactors, innovation in new nuclear technologies and waste management.
Belgium, a founding member of the NEA, has contributed significantly to research activities in nuclear science over the decades. Among other things, the country hosted Eurochemic, which was the NEA’s first joint undertaking, launched in 1957, and marked some of the first steps toward commercial recycling.
A meeting with Mathieu Bihet, Minister of Energy, focused on how Belgium can build on its long nuclear research tradition, technical expertise and international partnerships to advance its nuclear energy plans. Discussion topics included the long-term operation of nuclear power plants, small modular reactors, nuclear medicine and training the next generation of nuclear energy professionals. Priorities for collaboration with the NEA were also addressed.
Director-General Magwood delivers special remarks to Belgian nuclear sector stakeholders
At the Federal Public Service Economy, Director-General Magwood delivered remarks to senior government officials and industry representatives from the Belgian nuclear sector on the role of nuclear power in ensuring energy security and achieving climate goals, as well as the challenges ahead in meeting global ambitions. These themes and the ongoing and future collaboration were further explored during discussions with Pascale Absil, Director-General of the Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (FANC).
Meeting with the delegation of the Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (FANC), led by Director-General Pascale Absil (centre)
During a visit to SCK CEN, the Belgian nuclear research centre, the NEA Director-General met with Peter Baeten, Director-General of SCK CEN, to discuss the progress in developing the Multi-purpose HYbrid Research Reactor for High-tech Applications (MYRRHA) facility as well as activities caried out at the VENUS (Vulcan Experimental Nuclear Study) reactor, which has served as an experimental facility for reactor systems and testing reactor calculations since 1964. The country’s potential in providing nuclear medicine was highlighted during a tour of the construction sites for the Centralized Radiochemical Facility (CRF) and RECUMO facility, which will play a prominent role in the production of medical radioisotopes.
Director-General Magwood also visited Tabloo, a centre dedicated to informing the public about safe and responsible radioactive waste management, together with Kris Van Dijck, Mayor of Dessel, and Marc Demarche, Director General of ONDRAF/NIRAS (the Belgian Agency for Radioactive Waste and Enriched Fissile Materials). The visit provided an opportunity to discuss stakeholder involvement and engagement with local communities. Tabloo was developed by ONDRAF/NIRAS in collaboration with the municipality of Dessel near the site of the upcoming low- and intermediate-level short-lived radioactive waste repository.
Visit to Tabloo, a multifunctional visitor centre developed near the site of a future radioactive waste disposal facility for low- and intermediate-level short-lived waste, in Dessel, Belgium
Photo courtesy of FPS Economy and ONDRAF/NIRAS
