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IAEA Completes Conceptual Safety Review Of Atmea-1 Reactor Design

By David Dalton
7 July 2008

7 Jul (NucNet): The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has completed its review of the conceptual safety design features of the advanced generation Atmea-1 reactor being developed by a joint venture between Areva and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI).

The Atmea joint venture company said a team of experts under the auspices of the IAEA reviewed the Atmea-1 pressurised water reactor (PWR) design and evaluated it against current IAEA safety standards.

The objective of the review was to assess whether the conceptual safety features address IAEA requirements. The report concluded that the Atmea-1 conceptual design addresses the IAEA’s fundamental safety principles as well as key design and safety assessment requirements.

These safety features are the basis for the ongoing basic design work. The reactor design will be ready for licence application by the end of 2009 as planned.

The Atmea joint venture, based in Paris, was created by Areva and MHI to develop and market Atmea-1.

The Atmea-1 unit will have features already adopted by Areva and MHI in terms of resistance to commercial aircraft crashes, reduced spent fuel and waste, and the capacity to use mixed oxide (MOX) fuel.

In October 2007 Areva and MHI said they were working to have the unit ready for a licensing application in less than three years.

>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)

Areva And Mitsubishi Announce ‘Powerful’ Nuclear Alliance (News No. 225, 19 October 2006)

Areva And Mitsubishi Take Next Step Towards Reactor Joint Venture (News No. 164, 10 July 2007)

Areva And MHI Confirm Plans For Atmea-1 Reactor (News in Brief No. 23, 3 October 2007)

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