Division overview

The Back-End Division, committed to sustainable development and environmental protection, develops advanced technologies to treat spent fuel after its use in nuclear power plants. The treatment isolates reusable materials (96%).

The reusable materials (uranium and plutonium) are recovered and recyclable in nuclear reactors as MOX or UO2 fuel.

This process permits the reduction of final waste volumes, to be packed for final disposal.

The group also offers intermediate storage solutions as well as logistics, engineering and rehabilitation services.

The Back-End Division is made up of 5 business units*:

Recycling: the separation of used fuels into recyclable materials and final waste, recycling of those products as well as waste conditioning.

Logistics: design and manufacture design of casks, transport and storage of nuclear materials.

Cleanup: maintenance of installations, radiation protection, decontamination and dismantling of decommissioned installations, etc.

Engineering: engineering services contributing to the design and construction of installations for global nuclear operators, fabrication of mechanical systems for plant cleanup operations.

Nuclear site value development: operation of facilities to be dismantled, leadership for facility dismantling, operating support functions, if necessary, for the dismantling business.

AREVA is a world leader in the market of recycling of nuclear materials.

The world's installed reactors generate approximately 6,500 metric tons of heavy metal of used fuel each year. This is equal to the amount of fresh fuel loaded in the reactors.

* Business unit: activity or operational result center