Agency Name: | Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation |
Headquarters: | Lucas Heights, New South Wales, Australia |
Preceding1: | Australian Atomic Energy Commission |
Jurisdiction: | Australian Government |
Employees: | 1,000+ |
Minister1 Name: | Ed Husic |
Minister1 Pfo: | Minister for Industry and Science |
Chief1 Name: | The Hon Dr Annabelle Bennett |
Chief1 Position: | Chair of ANSTO |
Chief2 Name: | Shaun Jenkinson |
Chief2 Position: | Chief Executive Officer |
Keydocument1: | Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation Act 1987 (Cth) |
Parent Department: | Department of Industry, Science and Resources |
The Australian Nuclear Science & Technology Organisation (ANSTO) is Australia's national nuclear organisation and the centre of Australian nuclear expertise. It 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.
The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation Act 1987 (Cth) prescribes its general purpose.
ANSTO is governed by The Hon Dr Annabelle Bennett.[1] Penelope Dobson is the deputy chair. The CEO, Shaun Jenkinson, manages the organisation.[2]
ANSTO operates five research facilities:
Major research instruments include:
ANSTO also manufactures radiopharmaceuticals and performs commercial work such as silicon doping by nuclear transmutation.
ANSTO currently has two nuclear reactors onsite: HIFAR and the 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.
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]