From December 12, 2002 through December 18, 2002

Press release

December 19, 2002

Treatment activity :
During this week, 42 tons of spent fuel assemblies from EDF power plants have been processed on the site. From all treated assemblies, a total of 1022 tons have been processed to date this year. Four of the six lines of vitrification of fission products(1) were in service.
Since the beginning of the year, 587 canisters have been produced. It should be noted that the facility of hulls compaction (ACC) produced 274 canisters of compacted(2) residues since its startup at the end of the year 2001.

(1)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.
(2)It is about the metal envelope of the spent fuel assemblies as well as metal waste resulting from maintenance operations of the installations.