FAQ

ANSTO's nuclear research reactor

• What is OPAL and why has it been given this name?
• Why did we need a new reactor? What was wrong with the old one?
• What are some of the differences between the new reactor OPAL and HIFAR?
• What is neutron flux and why is it important?
• What are the main benefits of Australia having the new OPAL research
  reactor?
• How big is the new reactor?
• What were the stages of  development for Australia's new research reactor,
  OPAL?
• How much additional waste is being created by the new reactor?
• Given that Australia had not undertaken a similar project since the 1950s,
  what guarantees were given to ensure that Australia had the level of expertise
  required to undertake such a task?
• Was the Argentinean contractor, INVAP, subject to the same form of regulation
  as ANSTO is with ARPANSA?
• What is the status of the environmental assessment of the new research
  reactor?
• What will happen to HIFAR?

Reactor fuel

• Why does OPAL operate with Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) fuel?
• What is spent fuel and what does ANSTO do with it?

Reactor Safety

• How safe are nuclear research reactors?
• Do I get a higher radiation dose from living near the nuclear reactor?
• Why can't OPAL be located in a different area, away from suburban houses?
• If a plane flew into the new reactor, what would happen?
• How would a large earthquake affect the reactor?
• What security arrangements were in place during the construction of OPAL?
• What assurances can be given to ensure that the correct safety procedures in
  event of an emergency are in place?
• Should local people be issued with iodine tablets in case of a major incident?

Neutron beams and neutron scattering

• What is the Bragg Institute?
• What are neutron beams?
• What are they used for? What does neutron scattering do?

Particle accelerators and their uses

Nuclear Power

• Does ANSTO produce nuclear power?

Nuclear weapons

• Does ANSTO research or produce nuclear weapons?

Radiation

• What is radiation?

Radioactive waste

• What is radioactive waste?
• What is the difference between Low Level Waste (LLW) and Intermediate
  Level Waste (ILW)?
• Does the transportation of LLW put the community at risk of radiation
  exposure?
• Would ANSTO transport liquid waste?
• What if there was a fire on the truck, or a terrorist launched a missile attack
  while in transit?
• Can dirty bombs be made from LLW?
• Are the spent fuel rods stored at ANSTO high level waste?
• What is happening at the moment with decisions on storing radioactive
  waste?
• How much waste is already stored at ANSTO?

Radioisotopes

• What is a radioisotope?
• What are the main uses for radioisotopes?
• What is nuclear medicine and is it safe?
• Can you provide a list of radioisotopes made at ANSTO and their uses?
• What is a cyclotron?
• What is the difference between a cyclotron-produced and reactor-produced
  radioisotope?
• Could we produce all of our radioisotopes in a cyclotron and not have a
  reactor?
• Why can't we import our radioisotope needs from overseas?