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History
Since the early 1960's and the first plutonium fuel productions, the history of the Cadarache site has seen numerous turning points. One of the most notable being the start of MOX fuel production and 10 years later, the end of production.
From 1962 to 1991: 1st life
Perfection by the CEA of plutonium fuel production procedures and implementation of fuels for Rapid Neutron Reactors.
- 1957: establishment of the Cadarache center by the Atomic Energy Commission (CEA).
- 1959: construction of the Plutonium Technology Facility (ATPu).
- 1962: start of production.
- 1964: the ATPu is declared and classified as INB 32 (Basic Nuclear Installation).
- 1966: operation of Chemical Purification Laboratory (LPC).
- 1968: the LPC is declared and classified &uot;Basic Nuclear Installation&uot; no. 54.
- 1978: start of production of fuels for Ph´nix and Superph´nix Rapid Neuron Reactors.
- 1989: start of MOX fuel production (a mixture of uranium and plutonium oxides).
From 1991 to 2003: 2nd life
From 1991 to 1996, commercial MOX fuel production for French electric company EDF; then from 1997 to mid-2003, for German and Swiss power companies.
- 1991: transfer of plutonium fuel production operations from the CEA to AREVA.
- 1996: ISO 9002 certification.
- 1998: Regional Quality award (Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region).
- 1999: ISO 14001 certification - French Quality Award - Renewal of ISO 9002 certification.
- 2000: in agreement with the nuclear safety authority and taking account of changes in the earthquake-resistance regulations, presentation by AREVA to the Ministries for the Environment and Industry of a proposal to stop the establishment's commercial MOX fuel production operations and transfer them to the MELOX plant at the Marcoule site in the department of Gard.
- 2002: renewal of ISO 14001 and ISO 9002 certifications with transition to ISO 9001 (version 2000).
From 2003 to 2013: 3rd life
From 2003 to 2007, scrap conditioning, operations, perfection of clean-up techniques, disassembly and dismantling. Research and Applied Development Activities. From 2007 to 2013, facility clean-up and dismantling operations. Continuation of R& activities in UO2 (uranium oxide).
- 2003: EUROFAB program: The AREVA group was chosen by the United States to fabricate four MOX fuel assemblies from American plutonium of military origin.
- July 16: commercial MOX fuel production ceased (AREVA's Cadarache capacity: 42 tons/year).
- Start of production waste reprocessing and perfection of clean-up methods.
- Commencement of Research and Development (R&) laboratory activities in fuel rod welding.
- 2004: receipt of American plutonium in the autumn and production of pellets and rods as part of the &uot;EUROFAB&uot; program
- Continuation of production scrap conditioning activities, PuO2 reprocessing and clean-up and disassembly techniques.
- Disassembly of first equipment (glove boxes etc.).
- Equipment of Applied Research and Development (R&) laboratory for UO2 powder.
- 2005: EUROFAB rods transferred to MELOX site in the Gard department for building the four assemblies.
- Continuation of perfection of equipment clean-up and disassembly techniques prior to dismantling of the facilities.
- Conditioning, in the form of rods, of scrap from previous production operations before shipping them to AREVA's La Hague facility.
- Continuation of the Applied Research and Development laboratory's activities to develop and prove, on an industrial scale, the technological improvements in the procedure and any MOX fuel production equipment, for the MELOX plant and clients such as EDF.
- Renewal of ISO 9001 (quality) and ISO 14001 (environment) certifications; OHSAS 18001 certification initiative (occupational health and safety) with the aim of certification in 2006.
- 2008: commencement of dismantling operations in 2nd quarter.
- 2009: in March, order obtained authorizing Final Shutdown and Dismantling (MAD/DEM) operations.
