economedia.ro/raten-cumpara-1-000-de-tone-de-plumb

RATEN has initiated a public procurement worth 11 million lei for high-purity lead, essential for the nuclear research project "4ALFRED". This acquisition, funded by the Smart Growth Program, reinforces Romania's role in developing next-generation nuclear reactors. Lead serves as a thermal agent and working medium for lead-cooled fast reactors, crucial for experimental campaigns in advanced infrastructures. The ALFRED project aims to create safer, more efficient reactors with reduced radioactive waste. An experimental facility in Mioveni, capable of managing nearly 900 tons of molten lead, will simulate future reactor conditions. Additionally, RATEN awarded contracts for the design and operation of experimental facilities to an Italian firm, contributing to the European initiative for fourth-generation reactors.