The consultation, spanning two and a half years, aims to identify and address potential challenges for a future permit application. FANC clarified: “Such consultation is informative and advisory in nature and does not imply a preliminary granting of a permit.” The process includes workshops and technical exchanges on nuclear safety, security, and non-proliferation, starting with fundamental principles before delving into detailed technical aspects.
SCK-CEN Director General Peter Baeten emphasized the consultation’s importance, stating: “For SCK-CEN, this consultation is an essential step to ensure that our innovative technologies are not only scientifically advanced, but also meet safety standards. The collaboration with the FANC and foreign regulators strengthens the robustness of our trajectory.” The project plans to build two precursor reactors: one in Mol, Belgium, by 2035, and a second in Pitesti, Romania.
FANC Director General Pascale Absil highlighted the focus on safety, stating: “For FANC, nuclear safety is always central, even when it comes to new technologies, which come with greater challenges. Such innovative projects are really exciting and offer young talent the opportunity to develop.” She noted the consultation’s international scope, involving Romania’s nuclear regulator (CNCAN) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as a valuable aspect. Absil added: “This international dimension is an important added value in this process. It allows us to exchange insights with other safety authorities, which is valuable for a careful and objective assessment.”
The EU-SMR-LFR project, led by a consortium including SCK-CEN, Italy’s ENEA, Ansaldo Nucleare, and Romania’s RATEN, focuses on researching and commercializing lead-cooled, fast reactor technology. The consortium adopts a phased approach, beginning with a small-scale reactor in Mol to demonstrate technological feasibility, followed by the 300 MWt Advanced Lead-cooled Fast Reactor European Demonstrator (ALFRED) in Pitesti to assess technical and economic viability. These steps build on a decade of work by Ansaldo Nucleare, ENEA, and RATEN under the FALCON consortium, with the ultimate goal of global commercialization of SMR-LFR technology.
FANC stressed its role as an independent regulator, stating: “Our role as an independent supervisor remains guaranteed: we do not take a position on the desirability of nuclear projects, but we ensure that if they do come, this is done safely and in accordance with the law.” The consultation marks a significant step in advancing safe and innovative nuclear energy solutions in Europe.
