Important developments in the US policy on used fuel recycling

2/8/2006
Press release
With its Global Nuclear Energy Partnership initiative, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) took a strong stand in favor of sustainable energy development during its February 6 budget presentations.

The GNEP aims to institute a system of industrial services and controls to promote the controlled expansion of nuclear power around the world. The two thrusts of the partnership are to:
· institute an international system to increase non-proliferation guarantees by supplying uranium fuel to countries without a nuclear fuel cycle industry seeking to develop nuclear power;
· rely on used fuel recycling to take advantage of the fuel's energy content and minimize final waste volumes.

AREVA is delighted by the United States' new commitment to used fuel recycling, a sustainable and praiseworthy approach to management of the back end of the nuclear cycle. Among other benefits, recycling will optimize the final repository at the Yucca Mountain site in Nevada in terms of capacity and safety.

The group has 30 years of unique know-how in treatment and recycling. “In France as in the United States, where AREVA employs more than 5,000 people, all of the group's employees are ready to provide their experience to the US government, research organizations and industry to develop the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership,” stated Mike McMurphy, President of AREVA, Inc.


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