Industrial aspects of nuclear waste management in France

Management of nuclear wastes in France has necessitated the creation of a regulatory, industrial and research structure which reconciles two requirements: keeping responsibilities separate, while ensuring constant consultation. This combination makes it possible to seek an overall optimization of management policy taking into account both the safety objectives and technical and economic realities over the whole of the nuclear fuel cycle. The main processes for waste reduction, concentration and solidification adopted or being developed are surveyed. Some conclusions are drawn from French experience over a period of 30 years. In particular, the results of four years' operation of the Marcoule vitrification plant are given. Finally, the La Manche Centre for low- and intermediate-level wastes is described, and the outlook for deep geological disposal is discussed. (author)