Nov. 22, 2022
Japan Atomic Energy Agency

Cooperation to the HTGR research reactor in Poland
- Start of the R&D cooperation in the basic design of the HTGR research reactor in Poland -

The technology of high-temperature gas cooled reactor (HTGR), which is subject to international collaborative research relationship between Japan and Poland, has potential to provide new and advanced heat sources for hydrogen production and the chemical and petrochemical industries. Especially in Poland, HTGRs are expected to replace current installations powered by fossil fuels and lead to the decarbonisation of many industrial production processes. On these backgrounds, in May 2021, the Government of Poland decided to proceed to the next stage of research and development (R&D) of HTGR technologies and National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ) started the basic design of the HTGR research reactor. NCBJ requested cooperation from Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) for this project, which has a cooperative R&D relationship with NCBJ in the field of HTGR technologies. Today, JAEA and NCBJ signed an arrangement to revise the Implementation Arrangement for Cooperation in R&D in the Field of HTGR Technology signed in September 2019, The revision has added the basic design of a research reactor to the existing areas of cooperation.

JAEA signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) the field of HTGR technologies with NCBJ on May 18, 2017, in accordance with the Action Plan for the implementation of the strategic partnership between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Republic of Poland signed at the meeting of Foreign Ministers of Japan and Poland on May 18, 2017. JAEA and NCBJ have cooperated on simulation of upgrading HTGR and human resource development, etc. JAEA will continue to cooperate with NCBJ on the basic design of the HTGR research reactor to further upgrade and standardize Japan's HTGR technology developed through the construction and operation of the High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor (HTTR). JAEA, in cooperation with Poland, aims to enhance international competitiveness of Japanese HTGR technologies, which is attracting attention as a next generation nuclear reactor.