7th transport of metallic compacted waste to Switzerland

A railway shipment of metallic compacted waste, the result of the spent nuclear fuel treatment at la Hague plant, has left today from AREVA’s railway terminal in Valognes (Manche region, France). The shipping casks, which contain in total 40 containers of metallic compacted waste, are destinated for the storage facility of Zwilag (Switzerland). This is the 7th transport of this kind between France and Switzerland.

This transport fully complies with national and international applicable regulations in order to guarantee a high level of safety and security. The cask used is compliant with safety criteria defined by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and is designed to protect people and the environment in all circumstances.

The return of the Swiss waste is made in compliance with the provisions of French law planning the return of the nuclear waste in their country of origin.

It is part of the contract for the processing-recycling of used nuclear fuel between AREVA and the Swiss utilities, in charge of nuclear fuel management. This contract plans, in particular, the separation of recyclable materials and the waste which result from processing at la Hague plant. This results in two types of waste: compacted waste, which are the residues of the metal components of the fuel assemblies used in the power plants, and vitrified waste, which are the non-recyclable materials and concentrate the majority of the radioactivity.

With this transport, the containers of metallic compacted waste to be shipped to Switzerland is now 71% completed.