A well -deserved director was canceled: Industry Minister Marzena Czarnecka dismissed the director Krzysztof Kurek from the function of the President of the National Center for Nuclear Research (NCBJ). Kurek was the head of the center for 10 years. The announcement states that the decision was made “having in mind the need to improve the functioning of the NCBJ, and in particular the need to properly prioritize the operation of the MARIA research reactor.”
What happened? The decision is related to the Maria nuclear reactor in Otwock, which was exposed on March 31 to the service permit. The new license was not obtained on time, so the reactor had to be turned off. The technical break is expected to last until May 8and in that time are to be conducted work modernization.
What is the Maria reactor? It is located in Otwock-Świerk near Warsaw. This is one of the few facilities of this type in Europe. It plays a significant role in obtaining radioactive isotopes used mainly in diagnostics and oncological treatment. The device is responsible for 10 percent world production of molybdenum-99. Radioisotope is produced only by seven nuclear reactors in the world.
When is the new director? It is to be selected in the competition. The Ministry of Industry will expect that “will present and implement the NCBJ activity plan as a research center supporting the implementation of nuclear energy in Poland, with a special role of the research reactor“.
Sources: IAR, Ministry of Industry [X], Next.gazeta.pl