The cabinets wants to demolish the existing nuclear research facility at Petten on the North Sea coast and replace it with a new ‘state of the art’ plant to produce medical isotopes, news agency ANP reports on Thursday.

The Petten reactor is 48 years old and has been closed several times in recent years because of problems. This summer the plant was closed for several months, contributing to the threat of a global shortage of medical isotopes for cancer patients. Petten produces 30% of the global supply.
ANP says the government believes the production of medical isotopes is so important that the Netherlands must retain its leading position.
According to the Telegraaf, dismantling Petten and building a new reactor will cost at least €300m and create 500 jobs.