MARIA Research Reactor (NCBJ, Świerk)
The only operating nuclear reactor in Poland — a high-flux, pool-and-channel-type research reactor with a thermal power of 30 MW, operated by the National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ) in Świerk near Otwock. Construction began in June 1970, and the reactor achieved its first startup (critical state) on 18 December 1974 at the then Institute of Nuclear Research (today NCBJ). The reactor is used for scientific research, materials irradiation and — which is of strategic importance on a global scale — the production of radioactive isotopes for medicine. MARIA produces, among others, molybdenum-99 (the precursor of technetium-99m, the most important radionuclide in medical diagnostics), iodine-131, lutetium-177 and others, forming the basis of preparations exported under the POLATOM brand to more than 80 countries; the reactor provides approximately 10% of the world's molybdenum-99 production. MARIA is a strategic national facility: Poland has a research reactor but no nuclear power plant (the historical Żarnowiec NPP project was abandoned — a separate record).
How it went
Assessment: settled. Signals only where documented.
Timeline
- Construction start Jun 1970
- Delivery 18 Dec 1974
Change history
- 18 Dec 1974 status: completed First start-up of the MARIA reactor — reaching criticality on 18 December 1974.
- 18 Dec 1974 stage: operational
- Jun 1970 stage: construction
Significance
MARIA is the only operating nuclear reactor in Poland and one of the world's key producers of molybdenum-99 — the radionuclide from which technetium-99m, the most important isotope in medical diagnostics, is obtained. The reactor provides approximately 10% of the world's molybdenum-99 production, and the isotopes produced in it (including iodine-131, lutetium-177, phosphorus-32, samarium-153, cobalt-60, holmium-166) form the basis of preparations exported under the POLATOM brand to more than 80 countries. After more than half a century of operation (startup in 1974), the facility remains a strategic scientific and medical infrastructure of the state — while at the same time Poland has no operating nuclear power plant. In 2024 the reactor marked its 50th anniversary of operation.
Sources 3
Every fact on this card comes from the sources below. Next to each source — which fields it supports.
- Polska Agencja Prasowa (PAP) Dec 2024StatusDeliveryInvestorOutcomeDescriptionSignificance
Status „reaktor MARIA, który obchodzi w tym roku 50-lecie swojej pracy, jest obecnie jedynym działającym reaktorem jądrowym w Polsce"
Delivery „MARIA po raz pierwszy uruchomiona została 18 grudnia 1974 r."
Investor „Reaktor powstał w ówczesnym Instytucie Badań Jądrowych (dziś NCBJ)"
- Wikipedia (pl)Construction startStage historyUtilisationDescriptionSignificance
Construction start „budowę rozpoczęto w czerwcu 1970 r."
Utilisation „zapewnia m.in. 10% światowej produkcji molibdenu-99"
- Narodowe Centrum Badań Jądrowych (NCBJ)StatusStageInvestorSignificance
Stage „The MARIA research reactor, Poland's sole nuclear reactor"