Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation


The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation is a statutory body of the Australian government, formed in 1987 to replace the Australian Atomic Energy Commission. Its head office and main facilities are in southern outskirts of Sydney at Lucas Heights, in the Sutherland Shire.

Purpose

The Australian Nuclear Science & Technology Organisation is Australia's national nuclear organisation and the centre of Australian nuclear expertise. The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation Act 1987 prescribes its general purpose. The purpose is translated into action through corporate drivers of vision, mission and strategic goals.

Mission statement

ANSTO is governed by Annabelle Bennett. Penelope Dobson is the Deputy Chair. The CEO, Dr Adrian "Adi" Paterson, manages the organisation.
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 currently has two nuclear reactors onsite: HIFAR and the new OPAL from the Argentine company INVAP. HIFAR was permanently shut down on 30 January 2007. OPAL became operational in November 2006 and was officially opened 20 April 2007.
In 2017, ANTSO announced the creation of a NiMo-SiC alloy for use in molten salt reactors.