Czech Technical University launches its second nuclear reactor, the 10th in Czechia

The 10th nuclear reactor in Czechia overall has been brought online. The Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering (FNSPE) at the Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU) today began operating its second teaching fission reactor, VR-2. It will be used for teaching and research. Faculty representatives announced the news at a press conference today. The reactor cost around 15 million crowns.

From today, CTU is operating two teaching reactors. There are a further eight reactors in the Czech Republic. The Research Centre Řež operates two research reactors, while energy company ČEZ operates six nuclear reactors at two nuclear power plants in Dukovany and Temelín.

The faculty began the process of building the reactor in 2014, and construction itself took a year. “It is a relatively small facility, even compared with the VR-1 reactor. But it is still a nuclear facility, and its preparation, construction and operation are subject to a range of regulations that we have to meet,” said Jan Rataj, head of the faculty’s Department of Nuclear Reactors.