Reprocessing-conditioning-recycling: A competitive industry at the service of the utilities

In order to answer to the future energy needs, the countries who have chosen nuclear power as a main energy source, have also opted for an optimisation of their policy through the Reprocessing-Conditioning-Recycling (RCR) strategy. The RCR industry is today totally mature and comprehensive thanks to proven industrial means for reprocessing through the UP3 and UP2-800 plants of the la Hague site and for Mixed Oxide fuel (Mox) supply. The optimisation of the RCR industry following the chromological logic of the fuel cycle development, has now focused on two main items: The fabrication of the Mox fuel and the management of the residues with a notably drastic reduction of the total volume of residues. From 1990 to 1994, several studies of the total fuel cycle cost have been carried out; German studies generally concluded to a potential advantage of the Direct Disposal option compared to the RCR strategy. But a 1996 Cogema-study, integrating the most recent data and based on a cost model of the complete fuel cycle, has shown (like the 1994 OECD study) very similar costs between the two options. Thanks to the industry optimisation, the RCR strategy has allowed to decrease the fuel cycle cost to a very low level of 1,5 Pf/kWh. The RCR strategy is economically competitive and less sensitive to price variations. Furthermore, it is immediately available for the utilities who consequently take advantage of a global service with firm prices. (orig.)