Belgian engineering firm Tractebel (part of France’s Engie) has signed an agreement with NRG PALLAS to extend their long-standing collaboration on the construction of the PALLAS research reactor in Petten, North Holland. Since 2015, Tractebel, and its subcontractor NucAdvisor, has played a pivotal role in the PALLAS project as Owner’s Engineer, providing multidisciplinary expertise in engineering, safety, licensing and project management. The extended agreement reinforces Tractebel’s commitment to support the reactor’s completion.
The 55 MWt tank-in-pool PALLAS research reactor will replace the existing 45 MWt High Flux Reactor (HFR), which began operating in September 1960. It was originally used for materials testing but is currently used for fundamental research and the production of medical radioisotopes. The reactor is operated by NRG on behalf of the European Union’s Joint Research Centre. It supplies some 60% of Europe’s and 30% of the world’s use of medical radioactive sources. PALLAS will be able to deploy its neutron flux more efficiently and effectively than the HFR.
Tractebel’s contribution entails embedding long-term experts within the integrated project team with the support of Tractebel’s global nuclear competence centres, acting as an independent third-party reviewer for civil engineering works, and holding a Safety Chair position within the PALLAS Safety Committee. Tractebel also plays an active role in delivering training and facilitating knowledge transfer to strengthen the Intelligent Customer and Design Authority capabilities of the PALLAS organisation.
Tractebel experts have worked on all phases of the PALLAS project from initial feasibility studies and tendering phase to the various design phases and now construction, providing engineering services for:
- Siting & Licensing Support: Supporting detailed site characterisation and preparing licensing documentation (nuclear and conventional).
- Design & Safety: Ensuring compliance with nuclear safety and engineering standards (including technical Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) in design), reviewing technical specifications and safety analysis reports.
- Project & Risk Management: Supporting procurement strategies and risk mitigation.
- Construction Oversight: Advising on civil works, including the complex foundation and pit construction completed in 2025.
Tractebel’s experts were also involved in the recent completion of the reactor’s foundation jointly with other project partners. The construction pit and the foundation were completed in May. Belgian construction firm BESIX began preparations for the construction pit and the foundation, and first concrete was poured in May 2023. NRG PALLAS, together with main contractor FCC and designer ICHOS, is now preparing the next phase of the project.
“This project demonstrates Tractebel’s ability to support complex, multidisciplinary endeavours, while maintaining the highest standards of safety, technical integrity, and project delivery,” said Deepak Narasimhamurthy, Tractebel Country Manager, The Netherlands. “It also shows how international collaboration, technical expertise, and a shared mission can drive innovation in healthcare and energy. This new agreement demonstrates NRG PALLAS’s trust and our shared objectives, positioning Tractebel as a long-term strategic partner in the Netherlands’ nuclear future.”
