Weekly report : from October 31, 2002 through November 6, 2002

Press release

November 07, 2002

Treatment activity :

During this week, 21.2 tons of spent fuel assemblies from EDF and Goesgen Swiss power plants have been processed on the site.

From all treated assemblies, a total of 817.8 tons have been processed to date this year.

Four of the six lines of vitrification of fission products* were in service. Since the beginning of the year, 466 canisters have been produced.

Shipment activity :

A shipment containing one cask with 7 spent fuel assemblies from the Borssele** power plant's arrived the November 7th at 9:31 am at the railway terminal of Valognes.

* The fission products (ultimate residues of spent fuel) are incorporated in heated glass to approximately 1100°C. The whole is poured in stainless steel containers. The fission products are an integral part of stable, compact and resistant glass. This process is called vitrification.
** Pressurized Water Reactor operated by EPZ (Elektriciteits-Produktiemaatschappij Zuid).