Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation

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Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
ANSTO logo.svg
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
Agency overview
Formed1987 (1987)
Preceding agency
Jurisdiction Australian Government
Headquarters Lucas Heights, New South Wales, Australia
34°02′56″S150°58′30″E / 34.049°S 150.975°E / -34.049; 150.975
MottoScience. Ingenuity. Sustainability.
Employees1,000+
Minister responsible
Agency executives
Parent department Department of Industry, Science and Resources
Key document
  • Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation Act 1987 (Cth)
Website ansto.gov.au

The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) is a statutory body of the Australian Government that is responsible for nuclear research and the production of radioisotopes for nuclear medicine. It operates a number of advanced research instruments, including ANTARES particle accelerator. ANSTO headquarters and main research facilities are on the southern outskirts of Sydney in Lucas Heights, Sutherland Shire.

Contents

History

ANSTO was established in April 1987 to replace the former Australian Atomic Energy Commission (AAEC), which was founded in 1952.

Purpose

The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation Act 1987 (Cth) prescribes its general purpose.

Mission statement

Governance

ANSTO is governed by a board, chaired by Michael Quigley from 20 June 2024 until 19 June 2028. [1] As of December 2025, Shaun Jenkinson is CEO of the organisation. He joined the ANSTO Health team in 2010, becoming Group Executive Nuclear Business, before being appointed CEO. [2]

Facilities and instruments

ANSTO operates five research facilities:

  1. OPAL research reactor
  2. Centre for Accelerator Science
  3. Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering
  4. Cyclotron facility
  5. Australian Synchrotron

Major research instruments include:

ANSTO also manufactures radiopharmaceuticals and performs commercial work such as silicon doping by nuclear transmutation.

Nuclear reactors

ANSTO has two nuclear research reactors onsite: The High Flux Australian Reactor, or HIFAR, in operation from 1958 to 2007, and the Open-pool Australian lightwater reactor (OPAL) designed by the Argentine company INVAP. HIFAR was permanently shut down on 30 January 2007. The OPAL reactor came online in November 2006 and the facility was officially opened on 20 April 2007.

A third, smaller unit, being a 100 kW thermal Argonaut-class reactor named MOATA, was in operation between 1961 and 1995, before being decommissioned in 2009. The reactor was initially commissioned to train Australian nuclear scientists in the operation of HIFAR, but its envelope was later widened to include neutron imaging and activation analysis, soil analysis, and radioisotopic medical research.

Spent fuel from the reactors is transported to Port Kembla, then shipped to France for reprocessing. [7]

In 2017, ANSTO announced the creation of a NiMo-SiC alloy for use in molten salt reactors. [8]

Rare-earth processing facility

Australia's first rare-earth processing facility is under construction by ANSTO in Sydney, due for completion in 2026. The facility will process rare earths found in clay, and will be used by rare-earth companies from across Australia, with Australian Rare Earths's proposed Koppamurra mining project first to use it. [9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Mr Michael Quigley". ANSTO. 20 June 2024. Archived from the original on 10 August 2025. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
  2. ↑ "Mr Shaun Jenkinson". ansto.gov.au. Archived from the original on 12 May 2025. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
  3. ↑ "Echidna – ANSTO". Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  4. ↑ "Wombat – ANSTO". Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  5. ↑ "Kowari – ANSTO". Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  6. ↑ "Platypus – ANSTO". Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  7. ↑ "Radioactive nuclear 'boomerang waste' moved out of Australia". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 29 July 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  8. ↑ "News | ANSTO".[ dead link ]
  9. ↑ Bradbrook, Sam (12 December 2025). "Australian rare earth processing plant to be ready for use in 2026". ABC News . Archived from the original on 11 December 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
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