Slovenia has marked the 60th year of operation of the Triga research reactor with a ceremony at which Slovenia’s president Nataša Pirc Musar awarded the Golden Order of Merit to the Jožef Stefan Institute.

The order was awarded to the institute for its exceptional contribution to the development of Slovenian science, nuclear safety, energy independence and the international recognition of Slovenia, a statement said.

The Triga reactor is at the Jožef Stefan Institute near the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana. It first reached criticality on 31 May 1966.

Triga was designed as a facility for research, education and practical applications. The reactor is owned by Slovenia’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, and operated by the Jožef Stefan Institute, Slovenia’s leading scientific research institute.