Experience feedback of La Hague plants to the design of the Rokkasho reprocessing plant

The two French reprocessing plants UP3 and UP2-800 of La Hague site have demonstrated very satisfactory outcomes since their active commissioning in 1990 and 1994 respectively. In particular, the outstanding decontamination and separation efficiencies recorded in the first extraction cycles have allowed to simplify the operation of the plants and enabled to launch a whole waste minimisation program. The experiences and the evolutions of these plants have been reflected to the UP3 based Japanese reprocessing plant now under construction at the Rokkasho-mura site, leading to the simplification of the design and the improvement of the plant operability. (author)