Japan: AREVA signs a contract for the supply of MOX fuel to Hokkaido Electric

AREVA has signed today a contract* to supply MOX fuel assemblies for unit 3 of the Tomari nuclear power plant (Japan), owned and operated by Hokkaido Electric Power Company.

Under the terms of the contract, the fuel will be fabricated at AREVA’s MELOX plant in southern France, using plutonium recovered from the treatment operations performed at the group’s La Hague plant, thereby recycling it to be used in Japan as MOX fuel.

This first contract with fuel service supplier Mitsubishi Nuclear Fuel (MNF) is fully part of Japan's nuclear program to recycle used fuel, and follows other contracts signed by AREVA from 2006 to 2009 to supply MOX fuel for Japanese utilities CHUBU, KYUSHU, SHIKOKU, KANSAI, EPDC and CHUGOKU.

For Jean-Pierre Gros, Executive Vice President of AREVA’s Recycling business unit, “This contract, signed through the fuel vendor MNF with a 8th Japanese utility, strengthens AREVA’s world leadership in MOX fuel fabrication and attests Japanese utilities’ confidence in our technology and know-how.”

For Mr. Inoue, President of MNF, “This first MNF contract for MOX fuel will strengthen our relationship with AREVA in Japan. Working together, we are committed to the success of the MOX program of Hokkaido EPCo."

* Contract signed between MELOX SA, to fabricate MOX fuel, and MNF, in charge of designing the fuel for the utility.