Australia’s Open Pool Australian Lightwater (Opal) reactor, which first reached criticality 20 years ago, has supported the production of millions of lifesaving nuclear medicine doses, irradiated over 900 tonnes of silicon ingots and created neutrons essential for enabling 8,000 cutting-edge scientific experiments, operator the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation’s (Ansto) said.
Opal, at Ansto’s campus at Lucas Heights in southern Sydney, first reached criticality on 12 August 2006. It is a 20-MW multi-purpose reactor that uses low-enriched uranium-235 fuel.
In 20 years, Opal has helped with the production of more than 10 million lifesaving nuclear medicine doses, used in the diagnosis and treatment of a range of medical conditions and diseases. Each week, these medicines are delivered to hospitals and medical clinics across the country.
As the world’s largest irradiator of neutron transmutation doped silicon, Opal helps produce high-performance semiconductors used in electric vehicles, smart grids, renewable energy infrastructure, robotics and aerospace technologies.
More than 900 tonnes of silicon ingots have been irradiated in the Opal pool and used worldwide in technologies supporting advanced manufacturing and the clean energy transition.
Ansto chief executive officer Shaun Jenkinson said for 20 years, Opal has been arguably, Australia’s most significant piece of scientific infrastructure.
Jenkinson said Opal supports healthcare, scientific research, advanced manufacturing and Australia’s nuclear expertise.
