Weekly report : from  November 28, 2002 through December 4, 2002

Press release

December 05, 2002

Treatment activity :
During this week, 41.5 tons of spent fuel assemblies from EDF power plants have been processed on the site. From all treated assemblies, a total of 961 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, 551 canisters have been produced.

Shipment activity :
A shipment containing 52 spent fuel assemblies from Switzerland arrived at the railway terminal of Valognes, the December 4th at 10.00 am Besides, a shipment of spent fuel assemblies from the german nuclear power plants is in preparation.
Considering the implementation of the conditions necessary for the transport, the shipment could reach the railway terminal of Valognes from December 12.

(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