AREVA's campaign processing of spent fuel for EDF is underway and progressing well
– By Stephen Heiser –
Since the beginning of the year, 776 tons have been processed for recycling. In the vitrification facilities 46 canisters of vitrified fission products(1) have been produced. Since the beginning of the year, 317 canisters have been produced.
The facility of hulls compaction produced 74 canisters of compacted residues. Since the beginning of the year, 785 canisters have been produced. On, December 19, 2008 AREVA and EDF created a long-term used fuel management partnership
AREVA and EDF signed a framework agreement for the recycling[1] of used nuclear fuel[2] from 2008 to 2040, aimed at clarifying responsibilities and improving cooperation between the two groups.
The agreement, covering the scopes of used fuel transportation and recycling, determines the guidelines for a long-term partnership based on two reciprocal commitments: AREVA shall operate its La Hague and Melox sites until at least 2040, during which time EDF shall have access to the facilities for its own purposes.
The agreement guarantees both EDF and AREVA long-term visibility on their recycling partnership. It also allows for EDF’s planned increase in used fuel volumes sent to La Hague from 2010 onwards (850 to 1050 tons per year), and in the amounts of MOX[3] fuel fabricated at the Melox site (100 to 120 tons per year).
The agreement is a continuation of the longstanding ties between the two groups which, since the first EDF power plants were commissioned, have been based on:
– pick-up and transportation of used fuel from EDF power plants to La Hague
– separation of recyclable fuel material from ultimate residues at La Hague and MOX fuel fabrication at Melox
– packaging and minimizing of volumes, by vitrifying high-level waste or compacting medium- and low-level waste, for safe interim storage in dedicated installations at La Hague.
With manufacturing facilities in 43 countries and a sales network in more than 100 countries, AREVA offers customers reliable technological solutions for CO2-free power generation and electricity transmission and distribution. We are the world leader in nuclear power and the only company to cover all industrial activities in this field. Our 71.000 employees are committed to continuous improvement on a daily basis, making sustainable development the focal point of the group’s industrial strategy. AREVA’s businesses help meet the 21st century’s greatest challenges: making energy available to all, protecting the planet, and acting responsibly towards future generations.
The EDF Group, one of the leaders in the energy market in Europe, is an integrated energy company active in all businesses: production, transport, distribution, energy selling and trading. The Group is the leading electricity producer in Europe. In France, it has mainly nuclear and hydraulic production facilities where 95% of the electricity output involves no CO2 emissions. EDF’s transport and distribution subsidiaries operate 1,246,000 km of low and medium voltage overhead and underground electricity lines and around 100,000 km of high and very high voltage networks. The Group is involved in supplying energy and services to more than 38 million customers around the world, including more than 28 million in France. The Group generated consolidated sales of € 59.6 billion in 2007, of which 44% in Europe excluding France. EDF is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange and is a member of the CAC 40 index.
[1] Recycling: process by which around 96% of used fuel material is recycled, to produce a fifth of the waste volumes generated by nuclear power plants. Recoverable material is extracted and its energy potential harnessed (one gram of plutonium or 100 grams of uranium can generate as much electricity as one ton of oil)
[2] Used fuel: fuel used in a reactor to create nuclear chain reactions that produce the heat needed to generate electricity
[3] MOX: mixed-oxide (uranium and plutonium) fuel, fabricated by treating used fuel and reloaded into certain EDF nuclear power plants