Gas-cooled Fast Reactors GIF System Steering Committee
The Gas-cooled Fast Reactor System Steering Committee (GFR SSC) was initially formed following the signing of the GFR System Arrangement in 2006. A new version of the GFR System Arrangement (SA) has been signed in 2025 under the new GIF 2025 Framework Agreement. Currently, two members of the Generation IV International Forum (GIF) have signed the new GFR SA. The GFR SSC supervises two projects encompassing a wide array of subjects pertaining to Gas-cooled Fast Reactors. The common type of coolant and operating temperature range does make several topics common to GFR and Very High Temperature Reactors (VHTR), yet due to its different spectrum and different core layout it still requires dedicated R&D tracks to solve GFR specific challenges.
DISCLAIMER: The entry into force of the 2025 GIF Framework Agreement on 1st March 2025 brings changes to the GIF membership. The website will be updated in due course to reflect these changes.
Activities and Membership of the Gas Fast Reactors GIF System Steering Committee
GIF GFR SSC has currently two signatories (France and Japan) and a third one (Euratom) is invited to sign the corresponding System Arrangement. It oversees two R&D cooperation projects. Switzerland was a member of the GFR SSC from 2006 to 2015 under the 2005 GIF FA that expired in February 2025.
GFR Projects
| Project Arrangement | Project Description | Effective Date Under 2005 GIF FA (expired) | Signatories | Effective Date Under 2025 GIF FA (current) | Signatories |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conceptual Design and Safety (CD&S) |
| 2009 - 2025 | JRC (EU) | Will become effective upon two signatures | CEA (FR) JRC (EU) - invited to sign |
| Fuel and Core Materials (FCM) |
| 2015 - 2025 | JRC (EU) | March 2025 | CEA (FR) JRC (EU) - invited to sign |
If you want to learn more about the Gas cooled Fast Reactor technology head to the GFR System description page. If you want to learn more about the latest outcomes and international efforts carried out under the GIF GFR SSC please refer to the latest GIF Annual Report.
GFR SSC Leadership & Technical Secretariat
Mr
Petr VACHA
Petr Vácha, head of the Advanced Reactor R&D in UJV Rez, Czech Republic, has over 10 years of experience in design and safety assessment of gas-cooled fast reactor technology, currently leading a team of almost 30 scientists and engineers, and being the lead designer of the HeFASTo GFR concept. He is one of the core members of the Generation IV International Forum’s GFR System Steering Committee for many years. Mr. Vácha holds BSc and MSc degrees in nuclear reactors and energetics from Czech Technical University in Prague. During his time at UJV Rez, he has established technical expertise in fast reactor design, thermal-hydraulics of gas-cooled systems, and severe accident prevention and mitigation in GFRs.
Ms
Xiaoluo WANG
Xiaoluo WANG joined the GIF Technical Secretariat in 2025, where she serves as Technical Secretary for GFR System Steering Committee, GFR Project Management Boards (Conceptual Design & Safety; Fuel & Core Material), SCWR System Steering Committee, and SCWR Project Management Boards (Material & Chemistry; Thermal Hydraulics & Safety; System Integration & Assessment Provisional).
Prior to joining GIF, Xiaoluo started her professional career as an intern at IAEA, after which she worked as a nuclear engineer at Nuclear Power institute of China (NPIC), responsible for advanced nuclear fuel research and design. She has also worked at Ministry of Finance of China and China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), mainly focus on bilateral and multinational Cooperation initiatives.