30 Mar (NucNet): Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited (JNFL) has joined an industry team that is hoping to develop and construct a consolidated fuel treatment centre and an advanced burner reactor to close the nuclear fuel cycle.
The other three members of the team are Areva, the Washington Group International and BWX Technologies. In September 2006 the three jointly submitted expressions of interest for the project to the US Department of Energy.
The four companies said the team would benefit from JNFL’s vast expertise in developing and operating its Rokkasho reprocessing plant in Japan. They said the recycling initiative will make nuclear energy “a truly sustainable energy resource”.
The project is part of the US-led Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP), which was announced in 2006 and includes designing advanced burner reactors and establishing a fuel services programme that would allow developing nations to acquire nuclear energy while minimising the risk of nuclear proliferation.
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
Areva And Partners Register Interest In US Fuel Treatment Initiative (News No. 206, 25 September 2006)
JNFL Registers Interest In GNEP Fuel Treatment Centre Project (World Nuclear Review No. 39, 28 September 2006)
