Belgium-based engineering firm Tractebel, part of the ENGIE Group, has signed a new agreement with NRG‑PALLAS to continue their longstanding partnership on the construction of the PALLAS research reactor in Petten, the Netherlands.

(Image: Pallas)

Tractebel has been serving as the Owner’s Engineer on the PALLAS project since 2015, delivering multidisciplinary expertise across engineering, licensing, and project governance. Under the new agreement, it will remain part of the integrated project team and continue providing support in design, construction, and safety governance—also holding the Chair of the Safety Committee.

The agreement also includes extensive knowledge transfer and training to help NRG‑PALLAS strengthen its internal Intelligent Customer and Design Authority capabilities—laying the foundation for long-term national expertise in nuclear energy.

"This project demonstrates Tractebel’s capabilities in complex nuclear engineering and our commitment to being a long-term strategic partner for the Netherlands."

 —Deepak Narasimhamurthy, Country Manager, Tractebel Netherlands

On the project side, the PALLAS reactor received its construction license in February 2023. By May 2025, major groundwork was completed, and in July 2025, the project passed its formal Gate Review to proceed to the next construction phase. PALLAS will replace the aging High Flux Reactor (HFR), which has long supplied over 60% of Europe’s and 30% of the world’s medical isotopes.

With a design capacity of ~55 MW thermal and a modern tank-in-pool layout, PALLAS aims to ensure a stable, high-flux neutron source. It is expected to serve the daily medical needs of over 30,000 patients worldwide.

The European Commission has approved up to €2 billion in state aid for the project, with final Dutch government approval pending.

This renewed collaboration not only advances the reactor project technically but also reinforces Europe’s medical security and strategic autonomy in nuclear capabilities.