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COMPLETE DOCUMENT (1862 kb) - OECD Nuclear Energy Agency

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In January 1989, the Japanese government (represented by Science and Technology <strong>Agency</strong>;<br />

STA) proposed an international co-operation for information exchange to cover the areas of nuclear<br />

physics, reactor physics, advanced process technologies and physico-chemical characterisation relevant<br />

to P&T technology under the auspices of the <strong>OECD</strong> <strong>Nuclear</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> <strong>Agency</strong>.<br />

The OMEGA-programme is to be proceeded in two steps: the phase I was originally intended<br />

to cover a period up to about 1996, and the phase-II to about 2000. In general, the basic studies and<br />

researches are to be conducted in the phase-I to evaluate various concepts and to develop required<br />

technologies. In the phase-II, engineering tests of technological or demonstration of concepts are<br />

planned. After 2000, pilot facilities will be built to demonstrate the P&T technology. The first check<br />

and review of the phase-I of the programme was scheduled in late 1998.<br />

Following items are being studied:<br />

• physical and chemical properties of minor actinides and fission products;<br />

• partitioning of high-level liquid waste from reprocessing process and recovery of useful<br />

metals;<br />

• transmutation: nuclear and fuel property data of minor actinides, system design study,<br />

reactor fuel and accelerator target development, and development of a high power<br />

accelerator for transmutation.<br />

JAERI has been developing technologies for a dedicated partitioning process and<br />

transmutation system based on the double strata fuel cycle concept. JNC has been devoting its major<br />

efforts to develop an advanced fuel cycle system with TRUEX process for U, Pu and MA co-extraction<br />

and with MOX-FBR for transmutation. CRIEPI has been developing an advanced recycle technology<br />

based on pyroprocess and on metallic-fuel FBR.<br />

3.1.2 SPIN programme<br />

The SPIN programme was launched by the CEA in 1992 following the law voted by the<br />

French Parliament in December 1991, concerning highly active and long-lived radioactive waste<br />

management. The law identifies three axis for further research in this field, in order to investigate and to<br />

assess before 2006 the different possible ways (P&T, geological disposal, long-term interim storage);<br />

the SPIN programme is the answer to the first axis of the law, concerning the investigation and the<br />

assessment of the possible routes for partitioning and transmutation of long-lived radionuclides.<br />

The programme is supported by the French Government, and also by industrial operators<br />

(EDF and COGEMA mainly). The results obtained are annually submitted for examination to the<br />

French National Assessment Committee, instituted by the law.<br />

The management of irradiated fuels in France was described by EDF at Global’95. It favours<br />

the recovery of plutonium from irradiated UO 2 fuels and its recycling in MOX for eventually<br />

twenty-eight 900 MWe-PWRs. After that, the resulting reprocessing wastes no longer contain<br />

significant amount of plutonium. The minor actinides (Am, Cm, Np) and the fission products, including<br />

long-lived (> 30 years), are currently vitrified and stored. The spent fuel in excess (mainly MOX) will<br />

also be temporarily stored.<br />

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