Uranium Enrichment and Fuel Fabrication - Current Issues (Europe)
(last updated 30 July 2008)
Contents:
> See also Current Issues for
> See also:
Euratorm Supply Agency concerned about enrichment capacities available for EU utilities from 2010
"The period from 2010 to 2013 could be very sensitive regarding the balance between enrichment services demand and offer, due to the transition between the shut down of gazeous diffusion plants and their replacement by new gazeous centrifugation capacities. Some concerns may appear during this period.
The Agency is concerned about the situation from 2013 onwards, even if European enricher companies said they will not be facing major capacity problems in meeting the requirements from European utilities."
Survey of enrichment requirements and capacity and their contractual coverage 
, Euratom Supply Agency, European Commission, 8 April 2008 (PDF)
Launching by the European Commission of an Impact Assessment (IA) for the evaluation of a potential legislative measure in the area of Transport of Radioactive Materials (TRAM)
> View details
The closing date for the submission of opinions is 28 January 2008.
> View: C-123/04, Judgment of 12/09/2006, Industrias Nucleares do Brasil and Siemens (European Court of Justice)
> See extra page
Map: Google Maps 
> See also: DU exports of Urenco's Almelo enrichment facility
Explosion in centrifuge manufacturing plant at Urenco Almelo site
At approx. 22:30 on July 23, 2008, an explosion occured at the centrifuge manufacturing plant of Urenco's subsidiary ETC at Almelo. The approx. 25 employees present in the shop evacuated the building without problems.
(NU.nl July 24, 2008)
Dutch Ministry discloses more details on depleted uranium disposition of Urenco's Almelo enrichment plant
On Jan. 22, 2008, the Dutch Ministry of Environment (VROM), in an answer to a parliamentary question, disclosed the transport statistics of the depleted uranium generated at Urenco's Almelo enrichment plant. The data includes the exports of depleted uranium to Russia (for re-enrichment), and to France (for conversion to U3O8).
> View details
Dutch Ministry discloses details on depleted uranium disposition of Urenco's Almelo enrichment plant
On Nov. 27, 2007, the Dutch Ministry of Environment (VROM), in an answer to a parliamentary question, disclosed the following information on the disposition of the depleted uranium generated at Urenco's Almelo enrichment plant:
- Almost half of the depleted uranium generated is sent to the Centrale Organisatie Voor Radioactief Afval (COVRA) radioactive waste facility, where it is stored. Approximately the same amount is sent to Russia for re-enrichment. Only a small fraction of the depleted uranium generated stays behind at Urenco's site.
- On average, an annual amount of 3700 t of depleted uranium is sent to Russia, and 740 t of natural-equivalent uranium are returned from Russia. The secondary tails generated from the re-enrichment process remain in Russia.
> Download Beantwoording Kamervragen lid Poppe 2070802570 over transport van kernafval (MS Word, in Dutch)
U.S. NRC issues export license for enrichment of Chinese origin uranium at Urenco's European plants
> View here
On Oct. 15, 2007, Ministerie van VROM issued the requested license amendment. The amendment can be appealed before the Raad van State until Dec. 5, 2007.
On June 28, 2007, Ministerie van VROM released the draft license amendment allowing for the increase of the licensed capacity of the Almelo enrichment plant from 3500 t SWU to 4500 t SWU for public comment.
On Oct. 19, 2006, Urenco filed the license application and an environmental assessment for the increase of the licensed capacity of its Almelo enrichment plant from 3500 t SWU to 4500 t SWU. On Nov. 29, 2006, Ministerie van VROM invited public comments on the environmental assessment.
In January 2006, Urenco Nederland B.V. began preparing an environmental assessment for a further increase of the licensed capacity of its Almelo enrichment plant from 3500 t SWU to 4500 t SWU. The comment period has been opened.
Further capacity increase to 3500 t SWU planned for Almelo enrichment plant
On July 13, 2005, the comment period on the revised "Ontwerpbeschikking" for the project was opened.
> View details (NENO - in Dutch)
> Download Sammeleinspruchslisten in Deutsch 
(BBU e.V. - Collective comment forms in German)
A new public participation process was started in Feb. 2005.
On Oct. 27, 2004, the Dutch Council of State (Raad van State ) declared the license for the capacity increase null and void. The decision was based on an irregularity in the public involvement process: the draft licence had only been published in the official journal and in local newspapers, but the residents living near the plant had not been notified individually. The licensing process therefore has to be repeated. (Gronauer Nachrichten Oct. 27, 2004)
> View Council of State decision Oct. 27, 2004 (in Dutch)
This decision came in response to a complaint filed by Dutch environmental groups:
> View Milieudefensie news release Oct. 27, 2004 (in Dutch)
The requested capacity increase was licensed on Feb. 23, 2004.
A hearing was held on August 19, 2003.
On May 23, 2003, Urenco Nederland B.V. has submitted an application for a further increase of the licensed capacity of its Almelo enrichment plant from 2800 t SWU to 3500 t SWU. Early in 2003, the licensed capacity had already been increased from 2500 to 2800 t SWU.
(Gronauer Nachrichten Aug. 6, 2003)
The German Chief Federal Prosecutor is investigating the role of two Germans in the proliferation of uranium enrichment centrifuge technology to Libya.
(Generalbundesanwalt Aug. 26, 2004)
The agreement on the phase out of nuclear energy production concluded between the German government and the utilites on June 14, 2000, does not mention the nuclear fuel facilities, such as the Urenco Gronau enrichment plant, or the ANF Lingen fuel fabrication plant.
The agreement is available from the Federal Environmental Ministry .
Aerial view: Google Maps
> See also: DU exports of Urenco's Gronau enrichment facility
Completion of capacity increase at Urenco Gronau enrichment plant delayed
The completion of the capacity increase of the Urenco Gronau enrichment plant has been delayed for almost one year, and the startup date is still unknown.
(taz June 6, 2008)
U.S. NRC issues export license for enrichment of Chinese origin uranium at Urenco's European plants
> View here
Protests against uranium hexafluoride rail transport from Pierrelatte to Gronau
On Dec. 6 and 7, 2006, a rail transport of uranium hexafluoride from the Pierrelatte conversion plant (France) to Gronau (Germany) was accompanied by protests in Waltrop, Hamm, Ahaus, and Gronau.
(SOFA Münster Dec. 7, 2006)
Protests in Gronau against uranium hexafluoride rail transport arriving from Pierrelatte
Upon arrival of a rail transport of uranium hexafluoride from the Pierrelatte conversion plant (France) on Nov. 16, 2006, protests were held in Gronau at the station and at the Urenco enrichment plant.
(SOFA Münster Nov. 16, 2006)
Anti-nuclear camp held at Gronau enrichment plant
On June 16-18, 2006, the organisation Nirgendwo (Nowhere) held an anti-nuclear camp with 50 - 60 participants at the Urenco Gronau enrichment plant.
(Westfälische Nachrichten June 18, 2006)
Urenco Deutschland receives German "Ethics in Business" award
On Nov. 2, 2005, the German branch of Urenco received the German Ethics in Business award.
(Westfälische Nachrichten Nov. 4, 2005)
Note 1: Rather than receiving money, the prizewinners have to pay EUR 4900 to the awarding organization.
Note 2: A partnering organization of the award is BUND , the German branch of Friends of the Earth.
Green party local group dissolved for capacity increase of Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant
In reaction to the licensing of the capacity increase of Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant by the Social Democrat / Green Party coalition State Government, the Gronau local group of the Green Party has declared its dissolution.
(Gronauer Nachrichten April 22, 2005)
Gronau enrichment plant granted license for capacity increase
On Feb. 14, 2005, the Northrhine-Westphalia State Ministry of Energy (MVEL) issued a license for the planned capacity increase to 4500 t SWU/y at Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant. The license comprises the construction of a second enrichment plant next to the existing plant. The existing plant holds a license for 1800 t SWU/y and will reach this capacity in 2005. In addition, the license allows for the long-term onsite storage of 50,000 t of depleted uranium in oxide form. (MVEL Feb. 14, 2005)
The whole capacity increase will cost Euro 700 - 800 million. A first tranche of Euro 200 million has already been allocated. First production at the new plant is expected to begin in the second half of 2007. (Gronauer Nachrichten Feb. 14, 2005)
Failure of ventilation system at Gronau enrichment plant
On March 21, 2004, rain water caused a short circuit in an air pressure sensor of Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant. Subsequently, parts of the plant's ventilation system failed. The problem was corrected within 70 minutes. According to Urenco, the event was categorized below INES 0 on the International Nuclear Event Scale.
(Gronauer Nachrichten March 25, 2004)
Security guards at Gronau enrichment plant on strike
The private security guards at Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant are on strike. They are participating in strikes organized by the "ver.di" trade union in Northrhine-Westphalia.
(AP July 25, 2003)
6700 objections filed against Gronau enrichment plant extension
On March 26, 2003, AKU Gronau handed 6700 objections against the capacity increase of Urenco's Gronau uranium enrichment plant over to the NRW state ministry of energy.
> See also: AKU Gronau · BUND NRW (in German)
Protest at Gronau enrichment plant
On September 1, 2002, approx. 200 anti-nuclear activists gathered in front of the Gronau enrichment plant to protest against the expansion of the plant.
Blockade at Gronau enrichment plant
16 anti-nuclear campaigners blocked the access to the Gronau enrichment plant early on August 30, 2002.
(Westfälische Nachrichten Aug 31, 2002)
State Government may stop capacity increase
According to a legal opinion commissioned by the Green Party, the Nordrhein-Westfalen state government is in the position to deny the requested capacity increase of Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant. The federal nuclear phase-out law would allow for such denial, according to the author of the opinion.
(Westfälische Rundschau May 3, 2002)
Environmental NGOs oppose planned capacity increase
At the occasion of the initiation of the environmental assessment for the planned capacity increase of Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant, the three major environmental NGOs *) based in the state of Nordrhein-Westfalen have vowed their opposition to the plan.
(Gronauer Nachrichten May 2, 2002)
*) Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz (BUND), Landesgemeinschaft Naturschutz und Umwelt (LNU), Naturschutzbund Deutschland (NABU).
> View the NGO's news release (May 3, 2002) (in German)
> Download NGO's statement (April 30, 2002) (23k PDF in German)
Capacity increased
At the end of 2000, total installed capacity at Urenco's enrichment plants in The Netherlands, United Kingdom, and Germany is approaching 4.8 million SWU per year. (UI News Briefing 00.50, Dec. 13, 2000)
On Dec. 2, 1999, around 40 protestors blocked the transport of UF6 cylinders at the gate of Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant. The transport consisted of 12 cylinders of natural UF6, originating from the conversion plant in Pierrelatte, France. The cylinders arrived by train at the railway terminal in Nordhorn and were then trucked 25 km to Gronau. One protestor was arrested, 26 others face charges with violations of the right of assembly. (Gronauer Nachrichten Dec. 3, 1999)
200 people from Germany and the Netherlands gathered on October 3, 1999 at Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant to call for an immediate phase-out of nuclear energy. Considering the criticality accident at the Tokai nuclear fuel plant in Japan, speakers warned of the hazards of uranium hexafluoride processing, and called for an inclusion of the plant in the government plans for nuclear phase-out.
> see also: URENCO Gronau plans another 122% capacity increase
Urenco will hold a public meeting on January 31, 2002 on the planned capacity increase:
Über die geplante Erweiterung der Urananreicherungsanlage auf 4000 Tonnen Trennarbeit/Jahr will die Geschäftsleitung der Firma Urenco Deutschland GmbH die Gronauer Bürger während einer öffentlichen Veranstaltung am Donnerstag, den 31. Januar 2002 informieren. Stattfinden soll der Informationsabend in der Aula des Werner-von-Siemens-Gymnasiums (Adresse: Laubstiege 23). (Gronauer Nachrichten 23.1.02)
Urenco Deutschland has formally applied for a licence to increase the capacity of the Gronau centrifuge enrichment plant to 4000 t SWU/yr. The current plant has a capacity of 1000 t SWU, which Urenco plans to increase by 800 t SWU under existing licences. Urenco announced plans to build a new 1500 t SWU plant at the site several months ago but has now revised the capacity of the new plant to 2200 t SWU. (NuclearFuel, 5 October 1998)
The license application also includes the construction of two buildings for the storage of depleted uranium as oxide (details here).
On May 28, 1998, Urenco announced that it is planning to increase the capacity of its Gronau enrichment plant by 1500 t/year uranium separation work (SWU).
On Oct. 31, 1997, Urenco's Gronau facility, the only uranium enrichment plant in Germany, received a license to increase its capacity from 1000 to 1800 t/year
uranium separation work (SWU).
> View license text (in German)
In September 1997, the Higher Administrative Court of
Münster had turned down an application filed by a citizen
group to conduct a referendum against the plan.
The previous capacity increase had been licensed in 1994,
allowing for a nearly doubling from 530 to 1000 t/year SWU. The
1000 t/year capacity will only be attained in early 1998.
On Nov. 28, 1997, the Higher Administrative Court of
Münster turned down a case filed by a Green Party member of
the city council of Gronau against the 1994 license.
Capacity also is being increased in Urenco's other plants: in
the end of 1997, the first modules of a new plant in Capenhurst
(UK) went into operation; and the capacity of 1500 t/year SWU of the Almelo plant (The Netherlands) is being expanded by 2000 t/year SWU.
Aerial view: Google Maps
ANF Lingen nuclear fuel fabrication plant applies for capacity increase to 800 t/a
The ANF Lingen nuclear fuel fabrication plant has filed an application for a capacity increase of the deconversion plant from 650 to 800 t/a. (Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Umwelt und Klimaschutz, July 2008)
Export of radioactive waste to the US for uranium extration and incineration
> view details
Excess amounts of uranium dumped on municipal dump in Sweden
Ranstad Mineral AB's uranium-processing plant has dumped excess amounts of uranium on the nearby municipal Risängen dump site which is located in the community of Skövde. 1500 kg rather than the licensed amount of 400 kg of uranium was dumped on behalf of Westinghouse Electric Sweden AB.
> View SSI release, Feb. 17, 2005 (in Swedish)
> View SSI release, Oct. 21, 2005 (in Swedish)
Waste containing plutonium from the dismantling of the former nuclear fuel plant of Siemens in Hanau, Germany, ends up on a municipal dumping ground near Ranstad in central Sweden.
40 metric tonnes of material have been delivered from Siemens to Ranstad Mineral AB. According to a Swedish parliament resolution, the import of radioactive waste into the country is prohibited in principle, but this material is classified as useful residues.
At Ranstad Mineral AB's uranium-processing plant (a former uranium mill), residual uranium is recovered from the Hanau material. After the extraction of the uranium, the material was dumped on the nearby municipal Risängen dump site which is located in the community of Skövde.
In April 2000 it was found that the plutonium concentrations in samples from dumped waste originating from treated Hanau material exceeded the admissible limit of 100 Bq/kg tenfold. The Swedish Radiation Protection Institute (SSI) then prohibited further dumping of this material.
In December 2000 however, Westinghouse Atom AB, the licensee for the dumping, illegally continued dumping of at least five further batches of the material.
SSI then investigated whether Westinghouse Atom AB might have penal responsibility for breaching the Radiation Protection Law. According to the law, a minor breach does not imply penal responsibility. And, SSI considered the breach minor, since no hazards to humans or the environment had occured.
(Der Spiegel / BBC Monitoring Service Apr. 29, 2002; Dagens Nyheter May 4, 2002; SSI documents)
> See also
> more Hanau decommissioning issues
UK's separated plutonium stockpile poses severe risks warns Royal Society
> See here
Study analyses economics of management options for UK uranium and plutonium stockpile
> See here
The British Geological Survey has performed a pilot study on the isotopic composition of uranium found in stream sediments near nuclear fuel facilities in the United Kingdom.
Samples were collected between 1979 and 1989 downstream from the following facilities:
- Drigg, Cumbria (part of the Sellafield complex),
- BNFL Springfields facility, near Preston (conversion and fuel fabrication),
- URENCO Capenhurst uranium processing complex (enrichment)
Uranium concentrations found in Drigg and Springfields stream sediments were about 20 times background, while those in Capenhurst were up to about 3 times background.
U-238/U-235 isotope ratios observed in stream sediments at Drigg and Springfields were in a 114.0 - 125.4 range (corresponding to 0.79 - 0.86 wt_% U-235), while those observed in Capenhurst were in a 54.8 - 63.0 range (corresponding to 1.55 - 1.77 wt_% U-235). For comparison: the U-238/U-235 ratio for natural uranium is 137.9, corresponding to 0.72 atom-percent, or 0.711 weight-percent U-235.
Without any detailed knowledge of the isotope ratios of the uranium released by these facilites, BGS was not able to determine what fraction of the uranium found in the stream sediments is attributable to the nuclear fuel facilities.
Uranium anomalies identified using G-BASE data - Natural or anthropogenic? A uranium isotope pilot study,
by SRN Chenery, EL Ander, KM Perkins, B Smith; British Geological Survey, Internal Report IR/02/001, 34 p., Keyworth, Nottingham 2002
> Download full report (2.5MB PDF - by courtesy of BGS)
British Energy (BE) said on Nov. 26, 2001, that uranium would need to reach $60/lb for mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel to become competitive, while the current market price is roughly $9/lb. BE Corporate Affairs Director Robert Armour said before the U.K. government's Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Committee that though BE had separated plutonium in storage at Sellafield from reprocessing of its advanced gas-cooled reactors' (AGR) spent fuel, it had not attempted to re-use it as MOX "because of cheap uranium." [Platts Nov. 26, 2001]
Aerial view: Google Maps
> See also: British Nuclear Group Sellafield Limited Capenhurst site
U.S. NRC issues export license for enrichment of Chinese origin uranium at Urenco's European plants
> View here
UK Environment Agency invites comment on review of radioactive waste authorisations for Urenco Capenhurst
The UK Environment Agency is reviewing the radioactive waste authorisations held by Urenco (Capenhurst) Limited for part of the nuclear site at Capenhurst, near Chester and invites comments.
Responses are due by 10 April 2007.
> View Environment Agency release Feb. 2007
Urenco Capenhurst tails deconversion plant project
> See here
Urenco Capenhurst seeks approval for enrichment of recycled uranium and for higher enrichment levels
A Preliminary Safety Report has been prepared to seek regulatory approval to enrich recycled uranium at Capenhurst as Urenco already does at its Almelo Plant in the Netherlands. Because of the potential increase in Nuclear power around the world uranium prices have risen which has therefore increased customer demand for enriching recycled uranium. The same report also covers the potential to enrich to higher levels than currently licensed. Again this is in anticipation of new requirements in the civil nuclear power industry as new generations of reactors are developed.
(Minutes of the Urenco (Capenhurst) Ltd Local Liaison Committee, 30th November 2005)
UK Government to privatise stake in Urenco
> See Urenco
UK regulator releases review of Urenco Capenhurst's decommissioning strategy
On November 9, 2004, the UK Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Installation Inspectorate (NII) released its quinquennial review of Urenco (Capenhurst) Ltd's decommissioning strategy. The review also covers Urenco's tails disposition strategy.
> View HSE release Nov. 9, 2004
> Download A review by HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate: Urenco (Capenhurst) Ltd's strategy
for decommissioning its nuclear licensed site, Nov. 2004 (300k PDF)
> See also: Enriched uranium found in stream sediments near UK nuclear fuel facilities
Aerial view: Google Maps
> See also: Enriched uranium found in stream sediments near UK nuclear fuel facilities
Operational life of BNFL Springfields uranium conversion plant to be extended by 10 years
Cameco has signed a toll-conversion agreement with British Nuclear Fuels plc (BNFL) to acquire uranium conversion services (UF6) from BNFL's Springfields plant in Lancashire, United Kingdom. Under the 10-year agreement, BNFL will annually convert a base quantity of 5 million kilograms of uranium (kgU) as UO3 to UF6 for Cameco.
In 2001, BNFL announced that the Springfields facility would close in 2006. This new agreement will keep the plant operating for the duration of the agreement.
Cameco will invest $4 million to construct drum tipping and washing facilities at BNFL's Springfields plant. UO3 shipments from Cameco's Blind River refinery to Springfields are expected to begin later in 2005 with UF6 conversion shipments from BNFL starting in mid-2006.
(Cameco March 16, 2005)
Springfields uranium conversion plant to be shut down in 2006
"British Nuclear Fuels plc (BNFL) will cease uranium hexafluoride (UF6) conversion operations at its Springfield facility after March 2006, the company announced. The decision to end the conversion operations follows BNFL's announced schedule for shutting down its eight Magnox plants. BNFL emphasized that production of Magnox fuel and UF6 conversion share manufacturing facilities, and that it would be uneconomical to continue UF6 conversion after Magnox fuel production ends 'sometime after 2005'. Meanwhile, BNFL has sold its uncommitted UF6 conversion capacity to Cameco Corp. Under the agreement, BNFL will cease marketing UF6 conversion immediately, and all production other than that needed to fill existing contract requirements is committed to Cameco, who must take a specified minimum quantity of conversion." (UI News Briefing 01.07, Feb. 14, 2001)
Aerial view: Google Maps
> See also: Enriched uranium found in stream sediments near UK nuclear fuel facilities
Sellafield MOX fuel plant produces almost nothing
A nuclear plant built at a cost of GBP 470 million to provide atomic fuel to be used in foreign power stations has produced almost nothing since it was opened six years ago, the government has admitted.
The mixed oxide (Mox) facility at Sellafield in Cumbria - which was opposed by green groups as uneconomic - was originally predicted to have an annual throughput of 120 tonnes of fuel.
The energy minister, Malcolm Wicks, has admitted in response to a parliamentary question that it had managed only 2.6 tonnes in any one 12-month period between 2002 and 2006-07.
In the four years before 2002, the plant had produced annual figures respectively of 2.3 tonnes, 0.3 tonnes, 0 tonnes and 0 tonnes.
Wicks described the Sellafield Mox plant (SMP) as being based on "largely unproven technology" and pointed out that its estimated annual output had been reduced by 2001 to 72 tonnes.
British Nuclear Group (BNG), which operates the Sellafield site, said a range of improvements were being made to the facility but it admitted that the 2007-08 period had again seen production disrupted by various problems.
BNG has been forced to meet the needs of Swiss and other contracted customers for Mox fuel through buying alternative supplies from France and Belgium.
(The Guardian March 3, 2008)
BNFL calls in chief competitor Cogéma to try to get its MOX fuel plant operating properly
BNFL has had to turn to its biggest competitor, the French group Cogema, for help to try to get its controversial GBP 473 million (EUR 684 million) MOX plant operating properly. The plant is years behind target and has lost the company hundreds of millions of pounds. Two former environment ministers - Labour and Conservative - are demanding a parliamentary inquiry.
(Independent Oct. 17, 2004)
Sellafield MOX plant starts operation
On December 20, 2001, BNFL's Sellafield MOX fuel plant started operation. (Independent Dec. 21, 2001)
FOE and Greenpeace lose appeal against Sellafield MOX plant decision
On December 7, 2001, environmentalists lost their appeal against the opening of the Sellafield MOX plant. Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace had urged the English Court of Appeal to overturn a High Court ruling last month that UK ministers had made "no error in law" in approving the Sellafield Mox Plant, which combines reprocessed plutonium with uranium. But Lords Justices Simon Brown, Waller and Dyson unanimously rejected the appeal at a hearing in London, saying the government was "entitled to decide these cases in the real world".
(Financial Times 7 Dec 2001)
> View FOE news release (7 Dec 2001)
Ireland loses legal challenge against Sellafield MOX plant
On December 3, 2001, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in Hamburg ruled that "the urgency of the situation did not require the prescription of the provisional measures as requested by Ireland" (i.e. a temporary injunction to halt the start of operations at the MOX plant).
The tribunal ordered Ireland and the UK to submit written evidence by December 17, giving Ireland a window of just three days to resolve its complaints before the scheduled opening of the plant on December 20.
(Financial Times 3 Dec. 2001)
> View: International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, Hamburg:
The MOX Plant Case (Ireland v. United Kingdom), Provisional Measures
FOE and Greenpeace appeal Sellafield MOX plant court decision
On Nov. 27, 2001, Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth asked Britain's Court of Appeal to block the opening of the Sellafield MOX fuel facility. They are appealing a decision by the High Court on 15 Nov. that the government had made "no error of law" in granting approval for the Sellafield facility in Cumbria to begin production of mixed-oxide fuel. (AP 28 Nov. 2001)
> View Friends of the Earth release Nov. 23, 2001
Irish Government calls for injunction against Sellafield MOX plant at International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea
The Government is calling for the tribunal to establish Ireland's rights under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and to grant its request for an injunction against the authorisation of the MOX plant next month based on a threat to those rights. Ireland says this is necessary to prevent the erosion of numerous other rights granted to it in the convention.
(Irish Times Nov. 20, 2001)
High Court Judge rules Sellafield MOX plant go-ahead not unlawful
On Nov. 15, 2001, a High Court Judge ruled that the Government's recent decision to give British Nuclear Fuels Ltd the go-ahead for the MOX plant at Sellafield was not unlawful under European law. Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace had made the case that the Government had wrongly disregarded the £470 million it cost to build the plant when deciding that the plant was economically justified under EU law. Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth will consider whether to appeal Mr Justice Collins' decision.
> View Friends of the Earth release Nov. 15, 2001
FOE and Greenpeace take MOX nuke plant to court
The UK Government is being taken to court to prevent the controversial plutonium plant at Sellafield from opening. Lawyers acting for Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace on Oct. 5, 2001, filed papers in the High Court.
> View Friends of the Earth release Oct. 5, 2001
Sellafield MOX plant receives government go-ahead
On Oct. 3, 2001, the UK Government announced that the manufacture of mixed oxide (MOX) fuel is justified in accordance with the requirements of European Community law.
Before the MOX Plant can start full operation, BNFL is required under one of the conditions in its Sellafield nuclear site licence to obtain consent for plutonium commissioning from the Health and Safety Executive.
> View DEFRA release Oct. 3, 2001 · Download Decision document (DEFRA)
> View Friends of the Earth release Oct. 3, 2001
The Nuclear Safety Directorate of the U.K. Health and Safety Executive has published the following reports:
HSE Team inspection of the control and supervision of operations at BNFL's Sellafield site (Feb. 18, 2000)
An investigation into the falsification of pellet diameter data in the MOX Demonstration Facility at the BNFL Sellafield site and the effect of this on the safety of MOX fuel in use (Feb. 18, 2000)
> see also Russia (Asia)
> see also Tails upgrading
> See also:
Russia not planning to extend HEU-LEU deal
Russia is not planning to extend the Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) Agreement with the U.S., Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency (Rosatom) chief Sergei Kiriyenko said. The HEU-LEU agreement will expire in 2013.
Russia commitments under the existing agreement will be fulfilled, Kiriyenko said. Russia has implemented the program by more than half, having
converted over 250 tonnes of highly-enriched uranium, he said.
(Interfax July 15, 2006)
Companies Amend Deal for Uranium from Dismantled Russian Nuclear Weapons
Cameco, COGEMA and RWE NUKEM (collectively the western companies) announced they have signed an amendment with Techsnabexport (Tenex) that ensures the continued operation of the UF6 Feed Component Implementing Contract (HEU Contract) to the end of its term in 2013. The amendment provides for, amongst other things, that the western companies will forego a portion of their future options on non-quota HEU-derived uranium (i.e. quantities for consumption outside the US) to ensure there is sufficient material in Russia for blending down the weapons grade HEU to commercially usable low enriched uranium (LEU). This change was needed in light of Russia's rising requirements for uranium to fuel their expanding nuclear plant construction program within Russia and abroad. The amendment to the HEU Contract is subject to approval by the US and Russian governments.
(Cameco June 16, 2004)
US, Russia, agree on flexible pricing terms for Megatons to Megawatts program
The U.S. and Russian governments have approved implementation of new, flexible market-based pricing terms for the remaining 12 years of the historic Megatons to Megawatts national security program. The new flexible pricing terms will go into effect in January 2003.
The terms of the amendment between USEC and Tenex, the Russian executive agent, include a commitment through 2013 to purchase at least 5.5 million SWU annually, which is derived from approximately 30 metric tons of highly enriched uranium (HEU), resulting in the purchase of a total of 500 metric tons.
(USEC June 19, 2002)
Factories linked to Novosibirsk nuclear fuel plant polluting major river in Siberia - prosecutors
About ten industrial facilities linked to a major nuclear-fuel plant in western Siberia are polluting the Ob River, local prosecutors said on March 16, 2006.
The factories are all linked to a waste-treatment plant owned by the Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant (NCCP), a key part of Russia's nuclear-fuel production industry.
Local water-administration authorities refused to renew the plant's drainage license in October 2005, saying its treatment systems were inefficient and that it failed to report the precise volume of waste being dumped into the river and the waste's hazardous content.
"We set a threshold for chemical concentration in waste when issuing licenses to protect the environment," a local official said. "How we are supposed to issue a license if we do not even know the amount of waste dumped in the river?"
The official said that the NCCP should install efficient purification facilities before a license can be issued. NCCP officials, however, said the plant would not apply for a new license, as it no longer sent waste through the treatment plant, which is now used only by other enterprises.
A local court fined NCCP 25,000 rubles ($898) and ordered the suspension of waste disposal through the plant until a new license was granted.
Ecology experts are carrying out the evaluation of environmental damages caused by waste dumping into the Ob River, the world's fourth longest at about 2,300 miles, which flows from Russia's mountainous Altai Region through Novosibirsk and empties into the Arctic Ocean.
A controlling stake in NCCP is held by TVEL Corp. , a 100% state-owned joint-stock company that produces nuclear fuel for Russia's nuclear power plants.
(RIA Novosti March 16, 2006)
Capacity increase at TVEL Elektrostal nuclear fuel plant
Production of nuclear fuel pellets should be boosted by 400 tonnes per year following the launch of a new plant, TVEL announced. The 'dry conversion facility' - built at a cost of more than US$15 million - was commissioned at the end of March 2003 at the Elektrostal plant of TVEL subsidiary JSC Mashinistroitelny Zavod. The plant reconverts enriched uranium hexafluoride (UF6) gas into uranium dioxide (UO2) powder. Plant construction was supervised by engineers from Framatome ANP in Germany. (WNA News Briefing April 8, 2003)
