Avogadro RS-1 Plant
The Avogadro RS-1 facility was an experimental nuclear research reactor, located in Saluggia, Italy. It was the first built in Italy.
History of the reactor
It was built inside an industrial complex for the production of radiopharmaceuticals in 1959 by the nuclear research company SORIN, a joint venture between Fiat and Montecatini, to carry out research in nuclear physics and materials technology.
It was a pool-type research reactor used mainly for experimental purposes and was never connected to the national electrical grid. Its operation was halted in 1971 due to the difficulties that the nuclear sector was facing in Italy.
History of the storage facility
After the reactor was shut down in 1971, 10 years later, Enel requested and obtained from Fiat Avio S.p.A., the owner of the site, the conversion of the plant into a temporary national storage facility for the storage of spent nuclear fuel elements. It contains 164 spent nuclear fuel elements, of which 101 come from the Enrico Fermi Nuclear Power Plant and 63 from the Garigliano Nuclear Power Plant. In February 2011, the transfer operations began from the "Avogadro" storage facility to France (at the La Hague – Areva S.A.) of the 164 spent fuel rods, equivalent to about 30 tonnes, for reprocessing, which will return to Italy by 2025, without plutonium, but still radioactive.
Although the decommissioning operations are entrusted to SOGIN, the plant is owned by Deposito Avogadro S.r.l., 100% controlled by FIAT Partecipazioni S.p.A. later FCA Partecipazioni S.p.A.
At the end of 2025, ownership passes to SOGIN.