Melox

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Melox is a nuclear facility in France that produces plutonium-containing fuel elements ( MOX fuel elements ) for French and foreign light water reactors . The plant was initially planned in 1985 by Cogema , Framatome and EDF , built in 1990 and commissioned in 1995. With the transition from Cogema to the Areva Group, it is still the operator today. Operation takes place on the site of the Marcoule nuclear center on the right bank of the Rhône in the south of the country.

The approved annual capacity since September 2003 has been 145 tons of heavy metal per year. Originally 101 tons of heavy metal per year were approved. The later approved capacity increase is related to the discontinuation of the commercial production of a similar, but significantly smaller and older plant in Cadarache in July 2003. After the French electricity company EDF , whose orders account for around two thirds of the capacity, German energy supply companies are among the most important customers.

The manufacturing process is based on the processes that have been in use in the Dessel (Belgium) and Cadarache plants since the mid-1970s . The starting materials are plutonium dioxide (from the La Hague reprocessing plant ) and uranium dioxide in powder form.

Individual evidence

  1. Areva Group: History of MELOX recycling plant (English)

Web links

Coordinates: 44 ° 9 ′ 0 ″  N , 4 ° 43 ′ 0 ″  E