Risk-analysis of the fuel cycle in the Netherlands

An uranium enrichment plant has been designed and built according to the principle of ''Safe by design''. Passive safety measures have been taken to ensure 1) a continuous checking of ventilated air; 2) a minimum use of combustible materials; 3) the use of good lighting and safety instruments; 4) an extensive fire detection system. To the ''active'' safety measures belong the regular practices with the instruments of accident situations and the partition of the plant into a number of separated areas so as to localize any distribution of uranium hexafluoride. An analysis of the transport situation in terms of distance and frequency of transport of uranium hexafluoride vessels has shown that the chance of accident is less than 10-6 in a given year