In October, AREVA began fabrication of the first mixed-oxide nuclear fuel for the Borssele power plant, in the Netherlands. The first fuel assemblies are due to be loaded next year.
Dutch utility EPZ, which operates the 500 MWe pressurized water reactor at Borssele, has received a licence to load eight MOX fuel assemblies into the reactor in 2014, with 12 assemblies each subsequent year.
For nearly 30 years, EPZ has entrusted used fuel recycling to AREVA’s La Hague facility, which has processed close to 375 metric tons to date. In 2008, AREVA was selected to fabricate the MOX fuel.
The fuel is being made at AREVA’s MELOX plant at the Marcoule nuclear site in Gard region of France.
The Netherlands becomes the seventh country to use or have used MOX fuel in its nuclear reactors, including, among others, Germany, Switzerland, France, and Japan, AREVA said.
