Transport of compacted and intermediate level vitrified waste to Switzerland

A railway shipment of compacted waste and intermediate level vitrified waste, the result of the spent fuel treatment at la Hague plant, is programmed for today from AREVA’s railway terminal in Valognes (France). The transport casks, containing a total of 40 canisters of compacted waste and 20 canisters of intermediate level vitrified waste, are intended for interim storage in Switzerland.

The transport procedures are compliant with the applicable national and international regulations, guaranteeing a high level of safety and security. The cask used for the shipment meets all safety criteria as defined by the International Atomic Energy Agency and is designed to protect people and the environment in all circumstances.

The return of Swiss waste is made in compliance with the provisions of French law requiring the return of radioactive waste to their country of origin. This return is part of the contracts for the reprocessing of used nuclear fuel between AREVA and the Swiss nuclear plant operators. These contracts enable the separation of waste and the recovery of recyclable materials from the used fuel.