Dismantling, cleanup and reclamation

Over the course of its rich 100-year history, the Miramas site has been operated by a number of industrial players. Since 1961, the CEA, COGEMA and finally AREVA have converted and recycled light isotopes, lithium and boron in the form of pure products and non-radioactive alloys, without manipulating radioactive substances.

Closing, dismantling and cleaning up

Today, the facilities have been shut down and dismantled. Remediation is underway to prepare the grounds for new economic activities.

• Since end 2009, the Value Development Business Unit for nuclear sites has taken on the task of cleaning the soil at the Miramas site. The goal is to clean all the site grounds (approximately 100,000 m³ of soil), while minimizing the production of waste. This is the first time the cleaning process will be employed at such a large scale. Around fifty persons are working on the project, which started in November 2009 and will be completed sometime in 2014.
• Facilities used in the isotopic separation of lithium with a mercury-based process were shut down in 2000. The decommissioning program and processes were validated by prefectoral order on December 21, 2001. The building was emptied and has been used to treat site grounds since 2009.
• Facilities used in the production of boron, in service since 1992, were shut down in 2001. They did not contain any problematic chemical products and were dismantled in 2008 after being emptied and rinsed.

Site redevelopment

AREVA, with the agreement of authorities, wants to take advantage of Miramas’ strategic location by redeveloping the site for the future.

The objective is to completely reclaim the site and turn it into a job creation zone. In accordance with its sustainable development policy, AREVA is working on an HEQ (High Environmental Quality) certification project for this future zone.

At the same time, AREVA’s economic development service is helping to research interesting operations that could be installed on the grounds.