Orano and the Japanese Utility TEPCO Enter a Stronger Phase of Cooperation for Small Scale Retrieval Planning Project from the Fukushima-Daiichi Plant

PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News:

Orano has signed an engineering support contract with TEPCO and its subsidiary FDEC¹ responsible for the decommissioning of Fukushima, for the design of a high-activity facility related to small scale retrieval of nuclear fuel debris.

These debris consist mainly of a solidified mixture of molten nuclear fuel and other materials, located in facilities inside the reactor buildings.

According to the terms of the contract, Orano engineers will be embedded directly within TEPCO’s organization to provide technical support on the project to design of High Active cells for Small Scale Retrieval Plannning, and share Orano's best practices in terms of engineering and operation.

Orano has unique experience in the design, operation and dismantling of reprocessing plants in France. This know-how will contribute to the enhancement of the Japanese utility's in-house decommissioning and engineering capabilities necessary for stable and safe fuel debris retrieval operations.

Cross-visits to the Fukushima and the la Hague sites by the teams from Orano and TEPCO respectively were organized to launch the contract. They allowed TEPCO to familiarize itself with the know-how developed by the teams from Orano on the la Hague site in the retrieval of legacy waste.

Enguerrand LAGACHE, director of Orano's engineering activities in the field of recycling, said: "We are proud that our customer TEPCO has chosen to place its trust in us. It is recognition of the experience and know-how of Orano's teams in engineering for the design of complex nuclear facilities."

About Orano

As a recognized international operator in the field of nuclear materials, Orano delivers solutions to address present and future global energy and health challenges. Its expertise and mastery of cutting-edge technologies enable Orano to offer its customers high value-added products and services throughout the entire fuel cycle. Every day, the Orano group’s 16,500 employees draw on their skills, unwavering dedication to safety and constant quest for innovation, with the commitment to develop know-how in the transformation and control of nuclear materials, for the climate and for a healthy and resource-efficient world, now and tomorrow.

Orano, giving nuclear energy its full value.

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¹ Fukushima Decontamination and Decommissioning Engineering Company