Search Results for Francetag:fissilematerials.org,2024:/cgi-bin/mt//feed/France2024-03-29T05:56:24ZMovable Type 6.3.610311032022 civilian plutonium declarations submitted to the IAEAtag:fissilematerials.org,2024:/blog//3.11702024-03-25T16:12:12Z2024-03-25T16:14:01ZAdmin
This post contains a summary of INFCIRC/549 reports by the countries that submit annual civilian plutonium declarations that reflect the status of civilian plutonium stocks as of 31 December 2022. The total amount of plutonium declared as civilian was about...
France to produce tritium for nuclear weapons in EDF civilian nuclear reactorstag:fissilematerials.org,2024:/blog//3.11712024-03-18T10:06:41Z2024-03-27T14:33:23ZAdmin
During a visit to the Civaux nuclear power plant on 18 March 2024, France's Minister of the Armed Forces unveiled a plan to use the plant to produce tritium for the French nuclear weapons program. Civaux is a civilian power...
2021 civilian plutonium declarations submitted to the IAEAtag:fissilematerials.org,2023:/blog//3.11452023-01-27T16:15:15Z2023-03-09T18:31:04ZAdmin
This post contains a summary of INFCIRC/549 reports by the countries that submit annual civilian plutonium declarations that reflect the status of civilian plutonium stocks as of 31 December 2021. The total amount of plutonium declared as civilian was about...
Troubles with France's plutonium fuel programtag:fissilematerials.org,2022:/blog//3.11382022-08-28T08:54:46Z2022-08-29T07:12:46ZAdmin
Frank von Hippel France's government-controlled nuclear fuel company, Orano (formerly part of Areva), is facing significant operating problems at both its Melox uranium-plutonium mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel fabrication plant in southern France and its spent-fuel reprocessing plant for plutonium-separation at La...
France will accept plutonium from Japan's Fugen reactortag:fissilematerials.org,2022:/blog//3.11332022-06-21T06:57:56Z2022-08-05T06:59:48ZAdmin
Spent fuel of Japan's Fugen Advanced Thermal Reactor will be reprocessed in France. According to an agreement reached by the two governments, plutonium extracted from the fuel will remain in France while high-level waste will be returned to Japan. The...
Spent fuel of Monju reactor to be reprocessed in Francetag:fissilematerials.org,2022:/blog//3.11352022-03-30T07:25:54Z2022-08-05T07:43:18ZAdmin
The Japan Atomic Energy Agency plans to send the spent fuel of the Monju reactor for reprocessing to France. Assuming that the JAEA and Orano agree on the terms of the contract, the shipments will begin in 2034 and be...
Shipment of MOX fuel from France to Japantag:fissilematerials.org,2021:/blog//3.11282021-11-17T09:58:14Z2022-08-04T09:59:32ZAdmin
A shipment of plutonium-containing MOX fuel that left Cherbourg Harbor, France, on 8 September 2021, arrived in Japan on 17 November 2021. According to Orano, it was the 7th shipment of this kind. It contained 16 MOX fuel assemblies supplied...
2020 civilian plutonium declarations submitted to the IAEAtag:fissilematerials.org,2021:/blog//3.11152021-10-24T12:40:13Z2022-02-18T07:46:18ZAdmin
This post contains a summary of INFCIRC/549 reports by the countries that submit annual civilian plutonium declarations that reflect the status of civilian plutonium stocks as of 31 December 2020. Japan (INFCIRC/549/Add.1-24) reported owning the total of 46.1 tons of...
Status of plutonium management in Japan in 2020tag:fissilematerials.org,2021:/blog//3.11162021-07-09T13:38:27Z2021-10-24T13:40:51ZAdmin
The government of Japan released The Status Report of Plutonium Management in Japan - 2020, which details its plutonium holdings. According to the report, As of the end of 2020, the total amount of separated plutonium both managed within and...
United States continues to supply weapon-grade HEU for French reactortag:fissilematerials.org,2020:/blog//13.33972020-09-25T10:11:55Z2023-09-22T19:34:41ZAdmin
U.S. Department of Energy filed a request with NRC for a license to export 130 kg of highly-enriched uranium ("121.16 kg of U-235 contained in maximum of 130 kg uranium, enriched to maximum of 93.20 weight %") to France. The...
2019 civilian plutonium and HEU declarations submitted to the IAEAtag:fissilematerials.org,2020:/blog//13.33932020-09-05T20:20:25Z2021-10-24T13:42:27ZAdmin
This post contains a summary of INFCIRC/549 reports by the countries that submit annual civilian plutonium declarations that reflect the status of civilian plutonium stocks as of 31 December 2019. Japan (INFCIRC/549/Add.1-23) reported owning the total of 45.5 tons of...
Status of plutonium management in Japan in 2019tag:fissilematerials.org,2020:/blog//13.33922020-08-21T14:24:09Z2021-08-31T14:50:21ZAdmin
The government of Japan released The Status Report of Plutonium Management in Japan - 2019, which details its plutonium holdings. According to the report, As of the end of 2019, the total amount of separated plutonium both managed within and...
Framatome and Technical University of Munich will work on U-Mo fueltag:fissilematerials.org,2020:/blog//13.33832020-05-13T10:31:17Z2021-08-31T14:50:20ZAdmin
French company Framatome and the Technical University of Munich will work together to develop of uranium-molybdenum fuel for research reactors. The project will lead to the development of a pilot U-Mo fuel production line at the Cerca Research and Innovation...
2018 civilian plutonium and HEU declarations submitted to the IAEAtag:fissilematerials.org,2019:/blog//13.33602019-12-18T16:53:11Z2021-08-31T14:50:18ZAdmin
This post contains a summary of INFCIRC/549 reports by the countries that submit annual civilian plutonium declarations that reflect the status of civilian plutonium stocks as of 31 December 2018. Japan (INFCIRC/549/Add.1-22) reported owning the total of 45.7 tons of...
France terminates ASTRID fast-neutron reactor projecttag:fissilematerials.org,2019:/blog//13.33512019-08-30T10:50:23Z2021-08-31T14:50:18ZAdmin
France's nuclear agency, CEA, confirmed that it has terminated the program to build a prototype sodium-cooled fast-neutron reactor, known as ASTRID (Advanced Sodium Technological Reactor for Industrial Demonstration). The ASTRID project was initiated in 2006 and involved international partners, Japan...
Supply of U.S. HEU to Europe for Mo-99 production continuestag:fissilematerials.org,2019:/blog//13.33522019-08-05T09:49:04Z2021-08-31T14:50:18ZAdmin
U.S. Department of Energy requested an export license (XSNM3810) (original application) to ship 4.772 kg of HEU to Europe. The material will be used to manufacture targets used in production of Mo-99. The license application seeks approval of export of...
Status of plutonium management in Japan in 2018tag:fissilematerials.org,2019:/blog//13.33482019-07-30T11:12:14Z2021-08-31T14:50:18ZAdmin
The government of Japan released The Status Report of Plutonium Management in Japan - 2018, which details its plutonium holdings. According to the report, As of the end of 2018, the total amount of separated plutonium both managed within and...
2017 civilian plutonium declarations submitted to IAEAtag:fissilematerials.org,2018:/blog//13.33062018-09-19T09:51:01Z2021-08-31T14:50:16ZAdmin
This post contains a summary of INFCIRC/549 reports by the countries that submit annual civilian plutonium declarations that reflect the status of civilian plutonium stocks as of 31 December 2017. The post will be updated as more states submit their...
France believes reprocessing plant in China will begin operations in 2030 tag:fissilematerials.org,2018:/blog//13.33052018-09-18T12:42:57Z2021-08-31T14:50:16ZAdmin
Speaking at the 2018 CINE Forum held in Beijing in September 2018, Christophe Poinssot, CEA representative at the French Embassy in China, said that while France and China are sill discussing commercial aspects of the agreement to build a 800...
Japan's new policy on its plutonium stockpiletag:fissilematerials.org,2018:/blog//13.32972018-08-20T11:07:52Z2018-08-20T12:04:46ZAdmin
Tatsujiro Suzuki and Masa Takubo On 31 July 2018, Japan's Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) issued a new policy paper, The Basic Principles on Japan's Utilization of Plutonium, which for the first time, stated that "Japan will reduce the size of...
Request for another shipment of U.S. HEU to Europe for Mo-99 productiontag:fissilematerials.org,2018:/blog//13.33002018-08-17T22:02:50Z2021-08-31T14:50:15ZAdmin
U.S. Department of Energy requested an export license (XSNM3795) to ship 4.97 kg of HEU to Europe. The material will be used to manufacture targets used in production of Mo-99. The license application seeks approval of export of "4.63 kg...
Status of plutonium management in Japan in 2017tag:fissilematerials.org,2018:/blog//13.33012018-07-31T22:49:16Z2021-08-31T14:50:15ZAdmin
The government of Japan released The Status Report of Plutonium Management in Japan - 2017, which details its plutonium holdings. According to the report, As of the end of 2017, the total amount of separated plutonium both managed within and...
France signs agreement with Australia on research reactor fuel reprocessingtag:fissilematerials.org,2018:/blog//13.32942018-07-09T20:59:25Z2018-07-09T21:01:00ZAdmin
Mycle Schneider On 6 July 2018, the French Official Journal published a decree making formal a 23 November 2017 inter-governmental agreement for AREVA NC (now Orano) to reprocess at La Hague spent fuel from the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology...
France and China continue to discuss reprocessing planttag:fissilematerials.org,2018:/blog//13.32922018-06-25T11:22:03Z2021-08-31T14:50:15ZAdmin
France's Orano (formerly Areva) and China National Nuclear Corporation agreed to begin preparatory work on the "used fuel processing and recycling plant" in China. In January 2018, New Areva and CNNC signed a "memorandum of commercial agreement." At the time,...
Ukraine to explore reprocessing its spent fuel in Francetag:fissilematerials.org,2018:/blog//13.32862018-05-03T17:04:24Z2021-08-31T14:50:15ZAdmin
Ukraine's generating company Energoatom signed a contract with France's Orano (formerly Areva) "for assessing the feasibility of reprocessing services of spent fuel assemblies of Ukrainian VVER-1000 nuclear reactors in La Hague facility." The contract is part of Ukraine's effort to...
United States to send more HEU to Europe for Mo-99 productiontag:fissilematerials.org,2018:/blog//13.32792018-03-12T08:56:14Z2021-08-31T14:50:14ZAdmin
U.S. Department of Energy requested an export license (XSNM3794) to ship 5.274 kg of HEU to Europe. The material will be used to manufacture targets used in production of Mo-99. The license application seeks approval of export of "4.913 kg...
China and France continue negotiations on reprocessing facilitytag:fissilematerials.org,2018:/blog//13.32652018-01-09T08:57:45Z2021-08-31T14:50:14ZAdmin
France's New Areva and its partner China National Nuclear Corp (CNNC) signed "a memorandum of commercial agreement" for the reprocessing facility and MOX fuel fabrication plant that Areva expects to build in China. The parties confirmed their commitment to the...
United States to continue supplying HEU for Mo-99 production in Europe tag:fissilematerials.org,2017:/blog//13.32632017-12-12T16:41:29Z2021-08-31T14:50:13ZAdmin
U.S. Department of Energy submitted a license application (XSNM3788) to export 1.45 kg of HEU to France, where it will be used to manufacture targets used in Mo-99 production. The application requests a license to export "1.35 kg uranium-235 contained...
2016 civilian plutonium reports submitted to IAEAtag:fissilematerials.org,2017:/blog//13.32482017-10-21T10:36:53Z2021-08-31T14:50:12ZAdmin
This post contains a summary of INFCIRC/549 reports by the countries that submit annual civilian plutonium declarations that reflect the status of civilian plutonium stocks as of 31 December 2016. Japan (INFCIRC/549/Add.1-20) reported having 9.9 tons of plutonium in the...
Export of U.S. HEU to Europe authorizedtag:fissilematerials.org,2017:/blog//13.32342017-08-03T13:20:24Z2021-08-31T14:50:11ZAdmin
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved export license XSNM3776 that authorizes a shipment of 3.7 kg of 93.35% HEU (3.45 kg of U-235) to Europe. The material will be shipped to Areva facility in Romans, which will fabricate targets for Mo-99...
Status of plutonium management in Japan in 2016 tag:fissilematerials.org,2017:/blog//13.32312017-08-02T10:14:05Z2021-08-31T14:50:11ZAdmin
The government of Japan released The Status Report of Plutonium Management in Japan - 2016, which details its plutonium holdings. According to the report, As of the end of 2016, the total amount of separated plutonium both managed within and...
U.S. material in Europe to be used to manufacture HEU targetstag:fissilematerials.org,2017:/blog//13.32162017-04-03T14:50:03Z2021-08-31T14:50:11ZAdmin
The Office of Nonproliferation and Arms Control of the U.S. Department of Energy issued a notice of the change of end use terms of the HEU export license XSNM3622, issued in 2010, which authorized shipment of 93.5 kg of highly-enriched...
Unprecedented evidence of eroded safety culture at La Hague plutonium facilitytag:fissilematerials.org,2017:/blog//13.32152017-03-25T00:24:03Z2017-08-20T11:29:18ZMycle Schneider
by Mycle Schneider Chronical understaffing, "frantic cost-cutting", serious incidents--trade unions are raising "a serious alert message" concerning deteriorating working conditions and their impact on safety. One should add, and potentially on security. On 23 March 2017, international news agency Reuters...
High Level FMCT Expert Preparatory Group begins its worktag:fissilematerials.org,2017:/blog//13.32142017-03-03T10:25:47Z2021-08-31T14:50:11ZAdmin
The first session of the High Level Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty (FMCT) Expert Preparatory Group took place in New York on March 2-3, 2017. The Group was established by the UN Secretary General at the request of the UN General...
Georges Besse II enrichment plant reached full capacitytag:fissilematerials.org,2017:/blog//13.32112017-01-19T15:24:52Z2021-08-31T14:50:11ZAdmin
The Georges Besse II enrichment plant has reached its full production capacity of 7.5 million SWU in 2016, as was originally planned. The Georges Besse II plant includes South and North plants that were inaugurated in 2010 and in 2013...
2015 civilian plutonium reports submitted to IAEAtag:fissilematerials.org,2016:/blog//13.31812016-09-23T22:15:13Z2021-08-31T14:50:09ZAdmin
This post contains a summary of INFCIRC/549 reports by the countries that submit annual civilian plutonium declarations that reflect the status of civilian plutonium stocks as of 31 December 2015. Japan (INFCIRC/549/Add.1-19) reported having 10.7 tons of plutonium in the...
United States to supply HEU for Mo-99 production in Europetag:fissilematerials.org,2016:/blog//13.31712016-07-21T19:21:42Z2021-08-31T14:50:08ZAdmin
U.S. Department of Energy submitted a license application (XSNM3776) to export 7.2 kg of HEU to France, where it will be used to manufacture targets used in Mo-99 production. The application requests a license to export "6.7 kg uranium-235 contained...
French plutonium policy questioned by a former senior EDF officialtag:fissilematerials.org,2016:/new/blog//13.31082016-06-22T14:05:57Z2021-08-31T08:18:09ZAdmin
Christian Stoffaës, a former director of planning at Électricité de France, the French utility company, and founder of the "Cercle des ingénieurs economistes" published an op-ed article "Plutonium : le débat manqué de la transition énergétique" challenging France's long-standing policy...
Evaporator corrosion at La Hague threatens future reprocessing - Time for a strategy rethink?tag:fissilematerials.org,2016:/new/blog//13.30992016-04-19T09:04:39Z2016-07-29T11:46:15ZAdmin
Yves Marignac and Mycle Schneider On 24 February 2016, operator Areva and the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) released information about serious corrosion problems challenging the safety of high-level liquid waste evaporators at the French spent fuel reprocessing plants at...
IPFM Report "Alternatives to MOX" in Chinesetag:fissilematerials.org,2015:/new/blog//13.30772015-12-22T00:28:55Z2021-08-31T14:50:06ZAdmin
The International Panel on Fissile Materials research report, Alternatives to MOX: Direct-disposal Options for Stockpiles of Separated Plutonium, by Frank von Hippel and Gordon MacKerron is now available in Chinese. The report was originally release in April 2015. The link...
IPFM Report "Plutonium Separation in Nuclear Power Programs" in Chinesetag:fissilematerials.org,2015:/new/blog//13.30762015-12-22T00:19:39Z2021-08-31T14:50:06ZAdmin
The overview chapter of the International Panel on Fissile Materials's research report Plutonium Separation in Nuclear Power Programs: Status, Problems, and Prospects of Civilian Reprocessing Around the World, released in June 2015, is now available in Chinese. The link to...
2014 civilian plutonium (and HEU) reports submitted to IAEAtag:fissilematerials.org,2015:/new/blog//13.30682015-10-12T09:21:23Z2021-08-31T14:50:05ZAdmin
As of October 8, 2015, the IAEA had published as INFCIRC/549 documents reports by eight out of nine countries that submit annual civilian plutonium declarations. The new declarations reflect the status of civilian plutonium stock as of 31 December 2014....
Areva continues negotiations to build reprocessing plant in Chinatag:fissilematerials.org,2015:/new/blog//13.30552015-06-30T12:53:18Z2021-08-31T14:50:04ZAdmin
On June 30, 2015 Areva and China's CNNC signed a memorandum of understanding regarding potential supply of a spent fuel reprocessing facility to China. According to Areva's press-release, A memorandum of understanding (MoU) with CNNC [is] marking a new step...
Alternatives to MOX: a new report by the International Panel on Fissile Materialstag:fissilematerials.org,2015:/new/blog//13.30362015-04-13T11:45:18Z2021-08-31T14:50:03ZAdmin
The International Panel on Fissile Materials has released a new research report, Alternatives to MOX: Direct-disposal Options for Stockpiles of Separated Plutonium, by Frank von Hippel and Gordon MacKerron (pdf file). The report reviews programs in France, Japan, the United...
France submitted draft fissile material cutoff treaty to the Conference on Disarmamenttag:fissilematerials.org,2015:/new/blog//13.30382015-04-09T12:18:06Z2021-08-31T14:50:02ZAdmin
On April 9th, 2015, France formally deposited a draft fissile material cutoff treaty at the Conference on Disarmament. The draft, "Projet français de Traité interdisant la production de matières fissiles pour les armes nucléaires ou d'autres dispositifs explosifs nucléaires (FMCT)"...
Taiwan spent fuel reprocessing tender process suspendedtag:fissilematerials.org,2015:/new/blog//13.30352015-03-20T09:18:22Z2021-08-31T14:50:02ZAdmin
Shaun Burnie, with Mycle Schneider On March 20, 2015, it was announced that Taipower is to suspend the tendering process for the reprocessing of spent fuel from the Chinshan and Kuosheng reactors. Contract bids were requested for the reprocessing of...
Taiwan tenders spent fuel reprocessing contracttag:fissilematerials.org,2015:/new/blog//13.30342015-03-18T16:09:20Z2016-07-29T11:46:10ZAdmin
Shaun Burnie, with Mycle Schneider The forty-year-long efforts by the state owned Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) to secure large-scale spent fuel reprocessing moved a step further in early 2015 with the issuing of a call for tender by the Ministry...
U.S. HEU for medical isotope production in Europetag:fissilematerials.org,2015:/new/blog//13.30322015-02-24T10:42:15Z2021-08-31T14:50:02ZAdmin
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved an export license XSNM3756 that authorized export of 7.28 kg of U-235 contained in 7.8 kg of uranium be shipped for use in Mo-99 production at the Institute for Radioelements (IRE) in Belgium. The targets...
Pakistan's Chashma reprocessing plant may be completedtag:fissilematerials.org,2015:/new/blog//13.30282015-02-23T09:23:13Z2021-08-31T14:50:02ZAdmin
New satellite imagery, published by the Institute for Science and International Security, suggests Pakistan may have completed its Chashma reprocessing plant. Work on the reprocessing plant stated in 1974 when Pakistan signed a contract with the French company Saint-Gobain Techniques...
United Stated to send 130 kg of HEU to Francetag:fissilematerials.org,2015:/new/blog//13.30312015-02-18T10:29:13Z2021-08-31T14:50:02ZAdmin
The National Nuclear Security Administration submitted an application for an export license XSNM3757 to send "121.1 kg [of] uranium-235 contained in 130.0 kg [of] uranium" to the Areva CERCA facility to be used to manufacture fuel for the High Flux...
Japan's 2013 plutonium reporttag:fissilematerials.org,2014:/new/blog//13.30032014-09-16T10:38:50Z2021-08-31T14:50:00ZAdmin
On September 16, 2014 Japan's Atomic Energy Commission released its annual report "The Current Situation of Plutonium Management in Japan" (in Japanese). According to the report, at the end of 2013 Japan owned 47,145 kg of plutonium, of which 10,833...
French civilian plutonium and HEU in 2013tag:fissilematerials.org,2014:/new/blog//13.29982014-08-15T21:37:53Z2021-08-31T14:50:00ZAdmin
France submitted a declaration of its civilian plutonium and HEU holdings as of December 31, 2013 - INFCIRC/549/Add.5/18. According to the document, at the end of 2013 France had 43.2 tonnes of unirradiated separated plutonium stored at reprocessing plants, 6.6...
Japanese-French fast breeder cooperationtag:fissilematerials.org,2014:/new/blog//13.29792014-05-06T22:44:34Z2022-03-13T16:24:22ZAdmin
Shaun Burnie with Mycle Schneider Further cooperation between France and Japan on fast breeder reactor design and development has been announced at a May 5th 2014 summit meeting between Prime Minister Abe and President Hollande. The agreement between Japan's Education,...
New agreement signed to advance Areva reprocessing project in Chinatag:fissilematerials.org,2014:/new/blog//13.29732014-03-28T11:36:07Z2021-08-31T14:49:58ZAdmin
Representatives of Areva and the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) signed an agreement "related to the pursuit of the used fuel treatment and recycling facility project, the subject of a letter of intention signed in April 2013." In the April...
United States and Japan to remove plutonium and HEU from Fast Critical Assemblytag:fissilematerials.org,2014:/new/blog//13.29722014-03-24T11:21:41Z2021-08-31T14:49:58ZAdmin
The United States and Japan announced today that they will remove all plutonium and HEU from the Fast Critical Assembly (FCA) in JAERI Tokai Research Establishment. The agreement to remove the plutonium was first made public in January 2014. The...
Russia to supply HEU to research reactors abroadtag:fissilematerials.org,2014:/new/blog//13.29632014-01-30T09:20:12Z2021-08-31T14:49:57ZAdmin
On January 27, 2014 Russian president issued a decree that eased some restrictions on ownership of fissile materials by changing the list of fissile materials that could be exclusively owned by the federal government. Among other changes, the new version...
United States continues to supply HEU to Europetag:fissilematerials.org,2013:/new/blog//13.29522013-12-05T09:33:06Z2021-08-31T14:49:57ZAdmin
U.S. National Nuclear Security Agency submitted a request XSNM3729/01 to amend the HEU export license XSNM3729 issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on 5 March 2013 to increase the amount of HEU covered by license and to allow target irradiation...
Russia to supply HEU fuel for French research reactortag:fissilematerials.org,2013:/new/blog//13.29392013-09-18T20:00:29Z2021-08-31T14:49:56ZAdmin
Russian State Corporation Rosatom and France's Commissariat a l'energie atomique (CEA) reached an agreement under which Rosatom will supply HEU fuel for the Jules Horowitz Reactor that is being constructed at the CEA Cadarache Center. The research reactor is designed...
France declares its 2012 stocks of civilian plutonium and HEUtag:fissilematerials.org,2013:/new/blog//13.29362013-09-11T20:01:28Z2021-08-31T14:49:56ZAdmin
France submitted a declaration of its civilian plutonium and HEU holdings as of December 31, 2012 - INFCIRC/549/Add.5/17. According to the document, at the end of 2012 France had 42.4 tonnes of unirradiated separated plutonium stored at reprocessing plants, 7.1...
Areva to supply fuel for FRM-II research reactortag:fissilematerials.org,2013:/new/blog//13.29242013-06-24T19:45:00Z2021-08-31T14:49:55ZAdmin
Areva signed a contract to supply fuel elements for the FRM-II reactor at the Technical University Munich. The cost of the contract is reported to be "several million euros." It is not immediately clear what is the source of HEU...
Areva to build reprocessing plant in Chinatag:fissilematerials.org,2013:/new/blog//13.29152013-04-26T19:06:46Z2022-03-13T16:24:22ZAdmin
Areva and China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) "signed a letter of intent to build a used fuel treatment and recycling facility in China," according to a press-release by Areva. The facility will have the capacity to reprocess 800 tonnes of...
Civilian plutonium swap increased the amount of UK owned plutoniumtag:fissilematerials.org,2013:/new/blog//13.29162013-04-23T08:36:18Z2021-08-31T14:49:55ZAdmin
The UK Department of Energy and Climate Change announced a series of plutonium title swaps that will increase the amount of UK owned separated plutonium. However, these being title swaps, no physical transfer of material will take place. According to...
Areva launches commercial production at Georges Besse II North enrichment planttag:fissilematerials.org,2013:/new/blog//13.29102013-03-29T08:47:15Z2021-08-31T14:49:55ZAdmin
On March 29, 2013 Areva formally launched its Georges Besse II North uranium enrichment facility at Tricastin. The launch is part of the plan to inclrease the capacity of the facility to 7.5 million SWU by 2016. The Georges Besse...
Japan's 2011 civilian plutonium declarationtag:fissilematerials.org,2012:/new/blog//13.28932012-10-03T19:42:32Z2021-08-31T14:49:54ZAdmin
Japan submitted to IAEA its annual declaration of holdings of civilian plutonium as of December 31, 2011 - INFCIRC/549/Add.1/15. According to the document, at the end of 2011 Japan had 4.4 tonnes of separated unirradiated plutonium at the reprocessing facilities,...
Russia and the United States to work on HEU removaltag:fissilematerials.org,2012:/new/blog//13.28892012-09-17T14:12:40Z2016-07-29T11:45:58ZAdmin
Sergei Kiriyenko, the head of the Rosatom Corporation, told journalists during the IAEA General Conference in Vienna that Rosatom has returned to Russia 1.81 tonnes of HEU from foreign research reactors. Kiriyenko also said that by the end of 2012...
French civilian plutonium and HEU stocks in 2011tag:fissilematerials.org,2012:/new/blog//13.28822012-08-09T09:31:19Z2021-08-31T14:49:53ZAdmin
France submitted to IAEA a declaration of its civilian plutonium and HEU holdings as of December 31, 2011 - INFCIRC/549/Add.5/16. According to the document, at the end of 2011 France had 43.5 tonnes of unirradiated separated plutonium stored at reprocessing...
Georges Besse enrichment plant ceases productiontag:fissilematerials.org,2012:/new/blog//13.28682012-06-07T13:04:06Z2021-08-31T14:49:52ZAdmin
EURODIF's Georges Besse uranium enrichment plant permanently ceased production on June 7, 2012, according to a press release by Areva, the plant operator. The plant, located at the Tricastin site, operated since 1979 using gaseous diffusion technology to enrich uranium...
NNSA requests license to supply HEU to Europetag:fissilematerials.org,2012:/new/blog//13.28662012-05-30T21:44:48Z2021-08-31T14:49:52ZAdmin
The Y-12 National Security Complex of the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) filed a request with NRC for an amendment of a license XSNM3622, issued in 2010, to export HEU to Europe. The new request, XSNM3622/01, was submitted on...
U.S. reported to complete HEU shipment to Francetag:fissilematerials.org,2012:/new/blog//13.28532012-04-02T16:20:51Z2022-03-13T16:24:21ZAdmin
The United States is reported to be shipping 186.4 kg of HEU (174 kg U-235) to France, where the material will be used to manufacture fuel for the High Flux Reactor (Réacteur à Haut Flux, RHF) at the Institut Max...
U.S. to supply HEU to European countries while they pursue conversiontag:fissilematerials.org,2012:/new/blog//13.28512012-03-26T19:03:46Z2016-07-29T11:45:55ZAdmin
In a statement released at the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and the United States pledged to work together to eliminate the use of HEU from the medical isotope production in the European countries by 2015: Belgium,...
France declares its 2010 civilian plutonium and HEU stockstag:fissilematerials.org,2011:/new/blog//13.28312011-10-11T16:47:51Z2022-03-13T16:24:20ZAdmin
France submitted to IAEA a declaration of its civilian plutonium and HEU holdings as of December 31, 2010 - INFCIRC/549/Add.5/15. According to the document, at the end of 2010 France had 47 tonnes of unirradiated separated plutonium stored at reprocessing...
International Panel on Fissile Materials releases report on management of spent fuel from nuclear power reactorstag:fissilematerials.org,2011:/new/blog//13.28182011-09-26T10:03:01Z2021-08-31T14:49:51ZAdmin
The International Panel on Fissile Materials has released a new report, Managing Spent Fuel from Nuclear Power Reactors: Experience and Lessons from Around the World (pdf copy). The report provides an overview of the policy and technical challenges faced internationally...
GAO report on U.S. ability to account for its nuclear material overseastag:fissilematerials.org,2011:/new/blog//13.28152011-09-08T22:56:58Z2016-07-29T11:45:53ZAdmin
The U.S. Government Accountability Office released a report "U.S. Agencies Have Limited Ability to Account for, Monitor, and Evaluate the Security of U.S. Nuclear Material Overseas" (GAO-11-920 September 8, 2011), which evaluates the ability of U.S. agencies to track U.S.-obligated...
Managing nuclear spent fuel: Policy lessons from a 10-country studytag:fissilematerials.org,2011:/new/blog//13.28072011-06-28T21:55:55Z2021-08-31T14:49:51ZAdmin
BULLETIN OF THE ATOMIC SCIENTISTS | 27 JUNE 2011 BY HAROLD FEIVESON, ZIA MIAN, M. V. RAMANA, AND FRANK VON HIPPEL The International Panel on Fissile Materials is in the process of finalizing an analysis of the policy and technical...
Cadarache: Waste drums with plutonium content way off-limittag:fissilematerials.org,2011:/new/blog//13.27732011-01-06T13:13:14Z2022-03-13T16:24:18ZAdmin
On 21 December 2010, the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) declared an "anomaly" discovered at the shut-down MOX fuel fabrication facility ATPu (Atelier de Technologie Plutonium) at Cadarache in the South of France. A CEA press release states that the...
Areva inaugurates the Georges Besse II enrichment planttag:fissilematerials.org,2010:/new/blog//13.27572010-12-14T13:26:39Z2016-07-29T11:45:49ZAdmin
In a ceremony held at the Tricastin nuclear site, Areva inaugurated its Georges Besse II uranium enrichment plant. The plant uses gaseous centrifuge technology. According to Areva, it is expected to reach its nominal capacity of 7.5 million SWU/year in...
Japanese utilities increase their stake in Georges Besse II enrichment planttag:fissilematerials.org,2010:/new/blog//13.27402010-11-04T08:23:36Z2016-07-29T11:45:48ZAdmin
Two Japanese utilities - Tohoku Electric Power Co. and Kyushu Electric Power Co. - acquired 1% stake each in the company that operates Areva's Georges Besse II enrichment plant. According to the Areva press-release, the two utilities joined the Kansai...
Belgium authorities and French GDF-Suez set for MOX fuel technology transfer to Chinatag:fissilematerials.org,2010:/new/blog//13.27312010-10-07T21:37:25Z2022-03-13T16:24:16ZAdmin
Belgian and Chinese authorities agreed to cooperate to build a pilot plant for the fabrication of mixed oxide fuel (MOX) in China, as part of the country's plans to implement large-scale spent fuel reprocessing and plutonium re-use as part of...
Less than 4% of French nuclear fuel "recycled", NGOs calculatetag:fissilematerials.org,2010:/new/blog//13.27002010-09-08T18:28:06Z2022-03-13T16:24:16ZAdmin
This is the fourth in a series of four posts on the openness of the French "closed" fuel cycle Several members of the French High Committee for transparency and information on nuclear safety (HCTISN) declined to endorse the report it...
Fuel "recycling" a myth, a French report involuntarily demonstratestag:fissilematerials.org,2010:/new/blog//13.26962010-09-08T18:08:44Z2022-03-13T16:24:16ZAdmin
This is the third in a series of four posts on the openness of the French "closed" fuel cycle French industry and government assertions about the "closed" character of the nuclear fuel "cycle" are misrepresentating the facts. This is the...
Report: Long-term plans to develop an FBR based plutonium economy in France is not demonstratedtag:fissilematerials.org,2010:/new/blog//13.26972010-09-08T17:49:17Z2022-03-13T16:24:15ZAdmin
This is the second in a series of four posts on the openness of the French "closed" fuel cycle Official plans to manage French uranium and plutonium stockpiles over the long term were dealt a new blow when a scientific...
France: Official plan admits problems with management of uranium and plutoniumtag:fissilematerials.org,2010:/new/blog//13.26982010-09-08T17:32:56Z2022-03-13T16:24:15ZAdmin
This is the first in a series of four posts on the openness of the French "closed" fuel cycle On 4 June 2010, the French government published the new National Radioactive Materials and Wastes Management Scheme (Plan national de gestion...
France's 2009 declaration of civilian plutonium and HEUtag:fissilematerials.org,2010:/new/blog//13.27192010-09-08T17:25:14Z2022-03-13T16:24:15ZAdmin
France submitted to IAEA a declaration of its civilian plutonium and HEU holdings as of December 31, 2009 - INFCIRC/549/Add.5/14. According to the document, at the end of 2009 France had 47.1 tonnes of unirradiated separated plutonium stored at reprocessing...
Supply of Russian HEU to Western Europetag:fissilematerials.org,2010:/new/blog//13.26872010-07-27T21:44:45Z2022-03-13T16:24:15ZAdmin
According to IPFM information, Russia entered into two major HEU-supply arrangements in the 1990.In April 1996, Russia concluded and agreement with France to supply it with HEU for three research reactors - one in Saclay site and for two reactors...
End of reprocessed uranium exports to Russia?tag:fissilematerials.org,2010:/new/blog//13.26792010-05-29T18:32:43Z2022-03-13T16:24:14ZAdmin
AREVA's controversial shipments of uranium wastes from France to Russia could be terminated as early as July 2010, according to media reports and a press release by the French chapter of the environmental group Greenpeace. The uranium waste trade with...
AREVA signs MOX fuel fabrication contract with Japanese utilitytag:fissilematerials.org,2010:/new/blog//13.26552010-03-29T19:21:50Z2022-03-13T16:24:13ZAdmin
On 29 March the French nuclear company AREVA announced the signature of a new MOX fuel fabrication contract. The deal, signed between the AREVA subsidiary MELOX SA and Mitsubishi Nuclear Fuel (MNF), "in charge of designing the fuel for the...
U.S. to supply HEU for the High Flux Reactor in Francetag:fissilematerials.org,2010:/new/blog//13.26572010-03-11T11:12:14Z2021-08-31T08:18:06ZAdmin
The Y-12 National Security Complex filed a request with NRC for a license to export 160 kg of highly-enriched uranium ("149.36 kg of U-235 contained in maximum of 160 kg uranium, enriched to maximum of 93.35%") to France. The material...
Status of Japan's MOX fuel programtag:fissilematerials.org,2010:/new/blog//13.26452010-03-02T07:51:12Z2016-07-29T11:45:40ZAdmin
Guest contribution by Aileen Mioko Smith Japan's Shikoku Electric utility began commercial operation with MOX fuel on March 2nd. This makes its Ikata-3 PWR the second nuclear reactor in Japan to begin using MOX fuel as part of its normal...
A French documentary on nuclear wastetag:fissilematerials.org,2010:/new/blog//13.26432010-02-22T16:10:58Z2016-07-29T11:45:40ZAdmin
On 20 February 2010 Greenpeace issued a call for a moratorium on shipments of reprocessed uranium from France to Russia. Activists had been repeatedly blocking rail shipments of the material from the La Hague reprocessing plant to Cherbourg port. Parliamentary...
United States to send HEU to France for Belgian BR2 reactortag:fissilematerials.org,2010:/new/blog//13.27212010-02-19T18:18:54Z2022-03-13T16:24:13ZAdmin
The Y-12 National Security Complex filed a request with NRC for a license to export 93.5 kg of highly-enriched uranium (87.3 kilograms U-235, enrichment 93.35%, License Number XSNM3622) to France to manufacture fuel for the BR2 research and isotope production...
History and status of fast breeder reactor programs worldwidetag:fissilematerials.org,2010:/new/blog//13.26482010-02-17T18:30:30Z2024-03-27T14:05:40ZAdmin
The International Panel on Fissile Materials released a new research report, Fast Breeder Reactor Programs: History and Status (a pdf copy of the report is here). The report argues that the track record of all fast breeder reactor programs demonstrates that sodium-cooled reactors cannot...
Civilian plutonium stocks in France 1994-2008tag:fissilematerials.org,2010:/new/blog//13.26112010-02-06T09:43:38Z2016-07-29T11:45:37ZAdmin
Unirradiated plutonium stocks in France, in the form of separated plutonium or in fresh plutonium fuel (MOX) products have increased steadily since the late 1980s and reached a total of 83.8 metric tonnes by the end of 2008. The amount...
Nuclear cooperation agreement between France and India enters into forcetag:fissilematerials.org,2010:/new/blog//13.26092010-01-14T15:36:14Z2022-03-13T16:24:12ZAdmin
On 14 January 2010 the nuclear cooperation agreement between India and France entered into force with the exchange of letters, representing the instruments of ratification, between the Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and the French Ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont. The English...
Almost all HEU removed from Turkeytag:fissilematerials.org,2010:/new/blog//13.26202010-01-12T10:11:24Z2022-03-13T16:24:12ZAdmin
NNSA announced that it removed "the final 5.4 kilograms (11.9 pounds) of U.S.-origin highly enriched uranium (HEU) spent nuclear fuel" from Turkey as part of the GTRI program. The fuel was apparently taken from the Çekmece Nuclear Research and Training...
French Prime Minister offers reprocessing technology to Chinatag:fissilematerials.org,2009:/new/blog//13.25992009-12-21T19:12:30Z2022-03-13T16:24:12ZAdmin
French Prime Minister François Fillon stated during a speech in Beijing on 21 December 2009 that France and China think about "sustainable nuclear energy and in particular the reprocessing of spent fuel". Fillon claimed that it is in exploring this...
Repair work completed on waste disposal site at La Haguetag:fissilematerials.org,2009:/new/blog//13.26002009-12-11T19:53:49Z2016-07-29T11:45:36ZAdmin
The French Nuclear Waste Management Agency ANDRA announced on 11 December 2009 the completion of repair work on the cover of the low- and intermediate-level waste disposal site CSM (Centre de Stockage de la Manche) adjacent to AREVA's spent fuel...
French nuclear cooperation with India to cover reprocessingtag:fissilematerials.org,2009:/new/blog//13.26012009-12-04T20:04:00Z2016-07-29T11:45:36ZAdmin
An EU-India joint statement from 6 November 2009 states: "India and the EU share the understanding that the development of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes should take place in conformity with the highest standards of safety, security, and non-proliferation" and...
Large discrepancy in amount of plutonium at shutdown French MOX planttag:fissilematerials.org,2009:/new/blog//13.26022009-11-22T19:01:44Z2016-07-29T11:45:36ZAdmin
The French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) issued on 14 October 2009 a formal decision to halt decommissioning operations at a former MOX fuel fabrication plant in Cadarache in the South-East of France. The announcement followed the declaration of significant inconsistencies...
Areva to supply reactors, fuel, and uranium to Indiatag:fissilematerials.org,2009:/new/blog//13.25472009-02-09T03:47:39Z2016-07-29T11:45:33ZAdmin
Idaho Samizdat reports: Areva, the world's biggest manufacturer of nuclear reactors, has signed a deal with India to sell at least two and possibly six 1,600 MWe EPR nuclear reactors according to a report by Bloomberg wire service. The reactor...
Areva to supply enrichment services to EdFtag:fissilematerials.org,2009:/new/blog//13.25562009-02-03T22:18:17Z2016-07-29T11:45:34ZAdmin
Areva signed a contract to supply Electricite de France (EDF) with uranium enrichment services. The contract is estimated to be worth more than 5 billion euro (about $6.5 billion). The services will be provided by the Georges Besse II enrichment...
MOX fuel shipment to Japan preparedtag:fissilematerials.org,2009:/new/blog//13.25532009-01-29T23:19:40Z2016-07-29T11:45:33ZAdmin
European companies are preparing a shipment of MOX fuel to Japan, according to a World Nuclear News report: Areva of France manufactured the MOX. The UK's Pacific Nuclear Transport Limited (PNTL), a subsidiary of International Nuclear Services which is itself...
Europe's isotope production reactors are downtag:fissilematerials.org,2008:/new/blog//13.25372008-08-29T03:06:36Z2016-07-29T11:45:32ZAdmin
Platts reports that all three Europe's isotope production reactors are down. The BR2 reactor at Mol in Belgium and France's Osiris are down for scheduled maintenance and inspection, the High Flux Reactor at Petten in the Netherlands is down because...
China wants reprocessing technology from Francetag:fissilematerials.org,2008:/new/blog//13.24632008-01-15T16:31:13Z2016-07-29T11:45:26ZAdmin
China wants Areva to supply its spent fuel reprocessing technology as well as nuclear power reactors. An AP story quotes a source as saying that "The contract will not come into effect unless Areva agrees unequivocally to transfer this (nuclear fuel...