The Jules Horowitz reactor. A new high performances European MTR (Material Testing Reactor) with modern experimental capacities

European Material Testing Reactors (MTR) have provided an essential support for nuclear power programs over the last 40 years within the European Community. However, the reactors will be more than 50 years old in this decade and will face increasing probability of shut-down. The Jules Horowitz Reactor (JHR) is a new Material Testing Reactor currently under construction at CEA Cadarache Research Centre in the south of France. It will represent a major research infrastructure for scientific studies dealing with material and fuel behaviour under irradiation. The JHR will contribute also to secure the production of radioisotope for medical application. JHR building is going on in a nominal way and its first criticality is scheduled for the end of 2016. (orig.)