Nuclear: French parliamentary delegation visits ENEA and newcleo research facilities

A delegation of French parliamentarians visited the ENEA Research Centers in Casaccia and Brasimone to learn about the Agency’s facilities, including infrastructures dedicated to the development of liquid-lead-cooled reactors built by newcleo as part of its collaboration with ENEA.

Accompanied by ENEA and newcleo researchers and engineers, members of the delegation were able to closely observe some of the main research infrastructures located at the two centers. At the ENEA Casaccia Research Center they visited the TRIGA RC-1 and RSV TAPIRO research reactors, as well as the CALLIOPE gamma irradiation facility. At the ENEA Brasimone Research Center the delegation visited the CORE, CAPSULE, and OTHELLO infrastructures, developed by newcleo in collaboration with ENEA for research on liquid-lead-cooled nuclear systems.

The visit was organized by ENEA and newcleo for the French Parliament’s Parliamentary Office for the Evaluation of Scientific and Technological Choices (OPECST).

“This visit allowed us to gain deeper insight into the research and development work being conducted in Italy in the field of advanced reactors,” said Stéphane Piednoir, senator and president of OPECST, the body of the French Parliament responsible for providing legislators with independent scientific analysis on complex technological and scientific issues. “The infrastructure and expertise of ENEA and newcleo represent a significant contribution to European scientific and technological progress in the field of advanced reactors capable of closing the fuel cycle, and demonstrate the importance of cooperation between public research institutions and industry”.

The delegation included Stéphane Piednoir (senator, Les Républicains and president of OPECST), Gérard Leseul (member of parliament, Socialist Party and vice-president of OPECST), David Ros (senator, Socialist Party and vice-president of OPECST), Maxime Amblard (member of parliament, National Rally), Emeric Salmon (member of parliament, National Rally), and Michael Weber (senator, Socialist Party).