Nuclear technology firm Invap will construct two research reactors, one in Brazil and one in Argentina, under a contract signed with the two countries. Invap signed the USD 12 million contract with Argentina’s National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA) and Brazil’s National Nuclear Energy Commission (CNEN). The reactors have been designated the Brazilian Multipurpose Reactors (RMB) and the RA-10 in Argentina.
The Opal (Open Pool Australian Light-water) design which Argentina’s Invap supplied to the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization (Ansto) is the reference for this binational project, according to Argentina’s ministry of federal planning.
The reactors will be used for the production of medical radioisotopes, irradiation tests of advanced nuclear fuel and materials, and neutron beam research. Between them, the new Argentine and Brazilian reactors will provide the capacity to supply some 40% of global radioisotope demand. Argentina currently accounts for 5% of world radioisotope production, with the remainder supplied by Australia, Canada, France and South Africa.
Under a related contract signed in January 2012, Brazil’s Intertechne is developing the conceptual and basic design of buildings, systems and infrastructure for the Brazilian Multipurpose Reactor (RMB). The project will be built in the municipality of Iperó in São Paulo state and is due to start operating in 2018.