ANSTO Celebrates 20 Years of OPAL Supporting Research and Innovation

ANSTO celebrates 20 years of OPAL supporting research and innovation

OPAL is the centrepiece of some of ANSTO's world‍-‍class research and commercial facilities.

ANSTO marks 20 years of OPAL reactor supporting manufacturing and industry

Australia’s manufacturing sector has been among the industries supported by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation’s (ANSTO) OPAL multi-purpose reactor, which has reached 20 years since first achieving criticality at the organisation’s Lucas Heights campus.

The multi-purpose reactor OPAL, now in its 20th year, is not a power reactor

The multi-purpose reactor OPAL, now in its 20th year, is not a power reactor Published on the 11th August 2026 by ANSTO StaffShare to FacebookShare to BlueskyShare to LinkedIn This year OPAL's 20th Anniversary falls within National Science Week, the perfect time to explore and celebrate the science and technology behind its operation. Not all nuclear reactors are the same, although they have some characteristics in common. They are described a…