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MOX-fuel fabrication to increase N-transports

Nuclear Monitor Issue: 
#384
18/12/1992
Article

(December 18, 1992) Belgo Nucleaire at Mol in Belgium has applied for permission to build a second installation for the production of "MOX-fuel".

(384.3758) WISE Amsterdam - Several organizations (like Greenpeace Belgium, Milieu Overleg Kempen), some prominent people (mayors of surrounding villages, members of the national parliament) and individuals have appealed against this to the 'Raad van State' (Belgium's highest court). It is expected to be a long-lasting case.

In the meantime, it has come out that Belgo Nucleaire has applied for another permit n an operation permit. Early in February, the Belgian Parliament will discuss the future of reprocessing and production of MOX-fuel in Belgium. But the industry wants to go on without any discussion.

Belgo Nucleaire processes more than 2000 kg plutonium a year. That means a constant stream of transportation (several kg per transport) from and to Switzerland, France and Germany. The consequences of an accident with a plutonium transport (especially without security assistance) can be very serious.

Another company, in Dessel, Belgium n referred to by the German Magazine Der Spiegel (6 Dec. 1992) as "das Nuklear-Dorf Dessel" (the nuclear village) - has been using plutonium since 1987. The company, the Franco Belge Fabrication des Combustibles (FBFC), fabricates fuel elements (OX and MOX) on behalf of Belgo Nucleaire. In 1969 FBFC received permission to store and to use a maximum of 20 kg of plutonium per year; in 1979 the maximum was increased to 200 kilo, and in 1986 ermission was given for a maximum of 2,400 kilo.

The first transport of nuclear waste from the French reprocessing plant La Hague to Dessel is expected in 1994. The number of transports (which will be made by Transnubel) will increase. The exact number of all transports is unknown, but is constantly increasing because of the fuel production cycle:

  • plutonium is derived in La Hague and transported to Cadarache (France) where the MOX-fuel rods are produced.
  • next, these rods are transported to FBFC Dessel where the fuel elements are assembled.
  • these elements (fuel bundles) go back to France to one of the seven nuclear power plants that are licensed to use MOX-fuel.

Besides the plant in Dessel, FBFC has two more installations in Romans and Pierrelatte, France where only MOX-fuel is produced.

In November 1992, a "stressed" robot broke a MOX-fuel element at the Dessel plant; eight persons were contaminated: seven externally and one internally. A lot of things are unclear because of the accident. Trade unions are split over the issue: one states that everything goes all right, the other says that the rules are being ignored by the company.

Source and Contact: Wim Kersten, Milieudefensie, Damrak 26, 1012 IJ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; tel: +31-20-622 1366; fax: 627 52 87.