From December 5, 2002 through December 11, 2002

Press release

December 12, 2002

Treatment activity :
During this week, 19 tons of spent fuel assemblies from EDF power plants have been processed on the site. From all treated assemblies, a total of 980 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, 570 canisters have been produced.

Shipment activity :
Two shipments containing 9 casks of spent fuel assemblies from Germany and 1 cask of spent fuel assemblies from Nederland arrived at the railway terminal of Valognes, the December 4th at respectively 9.37 and 10.50 am

(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.