The IAEA concludes its Integrated Safety Assessment follow-up for Belgium’s BR2 reactor, noting clear safety improvements since the 2023 review while identifying areas still needing work. The four-day INSARR follow-up mission, requested by Belgium’s Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (FANC) and hosted by the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK- CEN), evaluated how safety measures have been implemented at BR2 and along the surrounding facilities.
The team—comprising two experts from Argentina and the Czech Republic, plus an IAEA official—visited BR2 and held discussions with SCK- CEN staff and FANC representatives. They confirmed that BR2 has strengthened its safety framework since the previous INSARR mission but also highlighted ongoing needs in safety analysis and the clarity of operational limits and conditions.
BR2, one of three operating research reactors at SCK- CEN in Mol, Belgium, has operated since 1961 and remains among the world’s most powerful research reactors. It supplies radioactive isotopes for medical use, including cancer therapy and medical imaging, and produces isotopes for industrial applications. Additionally, BR2 contributes to doped silicon production used in semiconductors found in hybrid vehicles, high-speed trains, solar, and wind installations. BR2 undergoes formal safety reviews every ten years, with the current review due to conclude next year.
Kaichao Sun, the mission’s lead and IAEA Nuclear Safety Officer, stated, “SCK- CEN has addressed most of the 2023 recommendations and achieved notable safety enhancements,” while noting that remaining actions must be completed to reach the highest level of safety for the ongoing periodic safety review.
The mission found that SCK- CEN has bolstered its safety posture by:
- Restructuring the organization to create a BR2-focused institute with adequate personnel and funding
- Strengthening safety culture through mandatory leadership development for managers across the organization
- Implementing a verification process conducted by authorized staff to improve reactor operation and maintenance
However, further safety improvements are needed in areas such as:
- Updating the BR2 safety analysis and acceptance criteria as part of the periodic safety review
- Advancing operational limits and conditions in line with IAEA safety standards
Steven Van Dyck, Director of BR2, expressed appreciation for the mission’s findings and the constructive dialogue with the IAEA team. He emphasized the organization’s daily commitment to improving safety and acknowledged that the mission’s guidance helps BR2 continue delivering critical medical and industrial capabilities to patients worldwide.
A new recommendation from the mission calls for clarifying how BR2 safety limits apply within the ongoing periodic safety review. The IAEA understands that FANC intends to publish the mission results on its website.
Background: INSARR missions are IAEA peer reviews conducted at a Member State’s request to assess safety against IAEA Safety Standards. Follow-up missions typically occur within two years of the initial review, and the IAEA Safety Standards provide a globally recognized framework to protect people and the environment from ionizing radiation.
