– Edited By Chris Reed –
AREVA and EDF have reached an agreement extending operation of the EURODIF enrichment plant until the end of 2012 and laying down the operating conditions for 2011-2012.
EURODIF, which means European Gaseous Diffusion Uranium Enrichment Consortium, is a subsidiary of the French company AREVA which operates a uranium enrichment plant established at the Tricastin Nuclear Power Center in Pierrelatte in Drôme. The nuclear site of Pierrelatte includes many nuclear installations, of which the largest are the EURODIF fuel factory and the Tricastin nuclear power station.
Under the agreement, EURODIF will start operating at its minimum technical capacity as soon as possible, with EDF supplying the electricity for the next two years. It also gives EDF an additional 1000 MW over the 2011-2012 period to provide its customers with electricity and guarantees a further 2000 MW beyond that date.
The agreement was reached in the framework of the joint strategic partnership between AREVA and EDF.
Both groups are delighted that a solution has been found to ensure the smooth transition between EURODIF and the Georges Besse 2 enrichment plant, both production-wise and as far as the workforce is concerned.