The High-Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (HTGR), the subject of research cooperation between Japan and Poland, can provide new and advanced sources of heat for the chemical and petrochemical industries and for the production of hydrogen. Especially in Poland, Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) of the HTGR type are expected to be a source of process heat for the chemical and petrochemical industry as an alternative to gas and coal-based heat sources. The National Center for Nuclear Research (NCBJ) cooperates in the development of the basic design of the Polish research reactor HTGR based on the framework agreement on research and development (R& D) concluded with the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) (signed in September 2019 and extended in November 2022). Under this agreement, NCBJ and JAEA signed a first contract for the transfer of some elements of the basic research reactor design in November 2022 (reactor physical design, fuel specification, etc.) with an executed completion date of February 2023. On March 29, 2023, a second contract was signed for the transfer of further elements of the basic reactor design (including systems safety design, structural elements and equipment), which will be completed in 3 stages by the end of March 2024.

The project is related to the implementation by NCBJ of the agreement with the Ministry of Education and Science entitled „Conceptual design of a research high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) in Poland” (contract No. 1/HTGR/2021/14), under which Polish specialists are to develop a reactor design, conduct analyzes of its safety and perform tests of reactor construction materials. JAEA is the best partner for cooperation due to its HTGR technology developed as part of the construction and operation of the High-Temperature Test Reactor (HTTR).