(EST PUB DATE) SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL INTELLIGENCE REPORT - FRENCH NUCLEAR POWER PLANS AND PROGRAMS

• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0000730943
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 19
• Document Release Date: March 21, 2008
• Case Number: F-2000-02088
• Publication Date: September 1, 1976

!fttt 1,1k , ; PRECIS,, More than 21 years after:0 the Middle East oil embargo, France is, t  :aggressively building !nuclear power stations and expanding its nuclear? fuel cycle ! proce4si:capacititlin Order to reduce dependence on 'foreign' energy sources. France's goal for 1985 is to produce Et! fourth of its total, , !!:  i !! ! 11 : !energy needs from nuclear: reactors, most of which will be French-builtWeitinghonse,:reaetOrs.,..AlthOugh this goal probably Will be missed by asmall; margin; thlygi+ili'jOf !'nucleai. 'Pow,r, generating capacity inFranCro,- will beigreEit TO support the growing number of nuclear powerplants,  involvedirithe French nuclear fuel cycle are being._expanded; i these facilities probably will, Suffice to meet nearly all OfFrance's 'nuclear, fuel requirements through 1985.i ? l'i H !CI ? ?11,141,'`.' 11 ? li'l 0 , , :' , , 1: :I; ? , ,! 'France i ; hopes to have, by. late in the, next decade, the world's first ,commercial fast ,;;,biecfeill reactor which would ; be competitive With 1, !, , , , ! 1,; ::!!,!..?  ' : I ,  today's.; widelY1 uSedpressurized-water reactors. if several technically !'challenging problems are, solved, France together with West German 1partneri may  . ,'1 realizeill s this I. objective. '.I .1.iBecause of !'?th'e., enormous . investments required, .' ' ' . -''' ' ' 'intematio,nacooperation, sucha  thatl it West Germany, is an Important  ,aspect ofi , ?? !!'SI 76-10025,;1 f; .! !!? .1.,' 1; 1 ?11i?Il'III I?. , 'r1 ,? 1 .' i ? I I,SI 76-10015.iSeptember 1976i. ,,, ?!" , ': ? .? i! I !. :. , !! ::' , I ' I ii ; , , ; ? i ; I1 ! 1 I ; ; ? ?;1 1 , , ; !1?/'111 1 1 ? 1 1' ; ' 4 11 . .L I 1.. ; !;?? -1? 1 I ; ; ! 1 1, ' ; ; ? 1 ; 1CENTRAL: .:INTELLIGENCE . AGENCY !-!DIRECTORATE :.OF SCIENCE AND ,TECHNOLOGYOFFICE OF, SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE 'l' I: 1 ; , I ? ; I I .;. I ;1.1 er;;;? I ',? ' 1. 1 ',;',. IDEN. TIAL. : . .' f I.-II..1,111:1., I? 1 :1 I I I I ' ' ? ' 1 L. 1I f ' I ?POWER PLANS AND PROGRAMS1..?! t ' , i 1 ? ! ' .? I I I; I ' 1 : ! i !: 1 !, . ? ? ,' 1 :I 'I; . ' ? ?I t'11-',....!1,'::."...1 ? : ,:I : , I , ? I ' ! 1: ! ! I , ; 1 ! I I . ,f 1,:i ' ', ? f ;; i If i , ;1i "I ! 1. ! : ' ` H, I ;? ' ; II ' I ; I ` 1 I' .I I  . .;I 1, t? .7i t t:, i' ;II , ?, ' ;.; ;; I1 l? t -It??.1NTIAlt?1!!!, .11 :? IPREFACE:! 1 ,1 i ? Fianc.0 has announced plans to rely: primarily an nuclear reactors to Leppace with ! 1its growing cnergY, needs. This paper ' provide a survey of Important projects in the !,1; 1French nuclear powtT Program and discusses the emphasis placed on several nuclear1 ' !reactor systems foil Meeting Medium and long-range energy needs A discussion, ofi expected French! 'capabilities ; through, 1985, in the nuclear fuel cycle, Which ! !.,encompasses 1 a range ! of activities from mining and 'enrichment of ' uranium  to :'? i fabrication and teritheessing of nuclear fuel, i.Oricluded. The paper also describes the :!new structure of the Freneh Atomic Energy COMmissiMi and nuclear indtistr, as well 1?: as 'the 'irripnet of; recent reorganizations upon Frince'i nuclear energy progritn.i ii! : 1 ';11, ;.; 11.1 .- , 1 ? ?I; ' I L1 1-!;,: ! . ' 11 i! 1 ' 11H i ; ' ; 11 , ' ' L;, This study wisl prepared by, the Office of Sciehtifie Intelligence and coordinated ',within CIAL \ .??? ?? ; ;?";1?;V'.CONTENTS?,? 1 t ? 1. ,,; !, i, , I,c Ili : i il'.?i ! , y ? ; '1PREFACE l'. l'; . ?I '10., ***** ? ,?111? ? , . I !! ? ? i ' 16 1.'? ? ?r?1. * 1. 0000 o . . ? .11..,t. ? .1t.', , 1 ' li t 1. , I; j ' ???!? .... ? .1It 1 t1 I it t I lt i , 1 'tilt! 1 ''PROBLEM::,1';.. 1...'..,'1 i1 '7 l''' , . ...: ? ? . ? ? ?,??? 00000 . ? ?' l'' '??????? ? ? 1,1. ? .. ? ? o .? ooI' . 1,11 L. Ir 1,,1 . , .CONCLUSIONS t.. ';'il."1? ? ? ? ? ? ?  i'? ? 6 400\ '?:i? ?: 00000 ? ? ? ti ? ? ? ? ?'? ?;? ? ? wee ?1 ??? ?1?: V' : 1? 1 ' '1 '11, . . 11 : '1 , o 1 : I 1 ' IP .? SUMMARY' . H ?'  ' ' '1 1 ;';! I 1 '? ? B. .. ? 0 ? 'I. ? ? . 11 ''  . II I ,li ? ? ?t? o ' 000000000 I o ?I  1 .I ''' ? I ' I . .I. 'DISCUSSION ..11...;:ii:. .: ....?,?it ? ?: oo ; 0000 . 000 1. i ?,. ;II ;;i,; ? Background '' o . oo .:???? ,i.. .  ,? ,..,. ? ? ?? 0000 . o ?? ? ?1? . ? 00000 ; o ???,???.New; StrUcture, of the French ;Nuclear Industry ....'. ??? ..',.... ''' ', I il :? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . ? ? ?I . 1 .Nuclear Power Program Objectives '.up to 1985 ...,.....'.. ? o . oo ... ? ,....;- ;Long-Range Energy Plans ,,.. ?.1. .?..... .. .. . .I? .... .......i'......Status of the French Fast Breeder Reactor Program k ? 0 1 . : ...Other Long-Range Nuclear Projects . . ... . '. ? i. . t ; ..? ? ? ? ? ? ?'The French .Nutlear, Fuel Cycle ....... . . . '? I? ? ? 1 I ! ' .? ? ? ? ?,I 1 ?,, ... li 1 1 ' ' r1 ? {' 1,, I, 1 1 ' 1 11 I ,111 ';1FRENCH iNUCII.EAR, 'POWER? !??I ? .1:, 911 IPROBLEM .... 1 ?? !I ,:--i : ? 1; , 1, 1; I i 1. 1.11 .'..10deteimine the status of the French nuclear power program and to define the roles'of principal nuclear power systems in France's medium and long-range energy plans:.  CONCLUSIONS. ?PLANS AND PROGRAM,1. In light Of. French projections Of total; energyconsumption in . 11985, France Will !need nuclearreactors amounting to 42,000 megawatts of net :electricpower generating capacity in ::,order ; to:, meet,' itsannounced goal of satisfying a , fourth of Its, energyrequirements by 'Means Of nuclear poWer:,_ _  ThiiCaPecitY! will be' ; ?  provided predominantly', by pressurized-water reactors:built by the French through a:O.ntinglicr. useh : license. 1', i ; . ?' , 1 . I: . !;h1 . tilt- 1.;1;: it.,11'1'il. ,; ' I:2. All activities in the nuclear fuel cycle either are' being expanded or are expected to expand : in Supportn 1 industry probably:1. ,Will 1 have :1:iof 'the growing nuclear: power , program. The: Frenchnuclear fuel cycleSufficient 'capacity to rneet the, needs l of the, nuclearpower itliticins in l' 1985.: '111 Illi .: ' ,' Ill, ' 1 'i" '11 ' ' fl ! .111,1 1;' ,',; dcl'1,11?''!1';11's 1111i ,:14,1: : ',11'I 3. France:is relying on commercial application of itsfast breeder:reactor, syStem, to helP, Meet its long-termneeds for electricity; an agreenient, has been reachedwith ;West Germany Which Provides; forl future joint' development and :construction of these; :advancedreactors. The French :'250-MWe demonstration : fastbreeder power plant has eperited,imoothly for MoreII .IIII',' 1 i ' IL IIIJ111 1'than,and2 years, but improvements in fuel: performansteam generator design' will be necessary in futurelarger ' plants. Construction of , a 1,200-MWe friSC,breeder reactor prototype is expected to begin seen. if !:? ' it !loperates 1 successfully, this reactor . System couldbecome 'commercially feasible', in the late 1980s. The.French 1have not discussed 1 the consequences epossible setbacks in their fast breeder reactor program;'it is likely , that the use of high-temperature reactori.,!end 'the' ;:recycling of plutonium in standarit''' 11 . ,pressurized-water 1 reactors:?eMphasis if 'the, fest breederserious difficulties.1 ;4. HInternationall,COoperition is important to th';French nuclear ;power 'plans and programs. France' s,Conducting1Mest of : its uranium exploration abroir,;ender agreements i With both ;; the 'host Countries an-other foreign partners. Involvement of foreign partners,in the Supe! Phenix project and the Eurodif uranium:1!? htenrichment venture has been motivated by by the heavy'iiilvestmenti, reqUiird.1, Similarly, 1 future ; cooperation',' with West Germany in fast breeder 'reactor develop=ment will create a sizable initial, ;market for thesesystems tnat otherwise would not be expected.I ; ;SUMMARYFrance has established the goal of producing afourth of, its total energy by means Of nuclear power by1985.'? Because this goal ,Wis motivated by a desire forenergy Independence rather thin,* a projected needfor eleciiieity, 'there is a guaranteed Market for thisindustrial and? 111' CO:1energy. If Use, of ' electricity in ,,both? .1 1, ? HiI .111; :111,, ?I 'domestic energy markets can be increased sufficiently::relation to i,' use '' of . other 'energy, '..J, and if publici .? 1, , -criticism . is not ' permitted: 'to hinder' ?the ' nuclear,. program, the i1985 goal may be reached:with 42,000..MW6eti of nuclear' power generiting capacity .,, 1, i? I a-a I ? I. ' . i'TIAL1,o;11.? T.;Such a capacity;would nonetheless be ,significant increase from thepresent ;1,900 MW(net)l; and would help "to reduce;France's .dependence on, imported ' ? ; 'I'11:The planned growth of nuclear power generating,caPacity1 is .CompleMented, by the development, ;the;expansion, or the 'planned exparisiOnof the facilities''making Up the Freneh,nticlear fuel cyck 'The French,nuclear 1fuel cycle Induitryil !, among' .; the ;mostComprehensive in: .the World , although,1 as in other; I ; ;countries, it is weak in radioactive wastemanagement.Extensive domestie ;uranium resources,;'weil,deYelopeduranium enrichment technology, and fuel reprocessingplants jive Franee, an unusual degree Of lindependeneein its nuclear energy program.; Thi,s, independence islimited, ? ',however, !; by ,the , Involvement I; of l,foreignpartner-In expensive!undertakings,) suCh as,construction! of the EurOdiflurriniurn; !enrichment'. ;plant, land by .the l'develOpinentl Of nran1um Mining.activities.' overseas in cooperatiOntiillwitti many other;1 ; ,;,.. ?,.countries: . .111 I ' '111! ;1 I .1;,For :the near future France Will ! rely; on pressiirized- ;A ; ; ?water,reaCtors built, with!tichnolOgy, obtained througha license'lfroM Westinghouse. Seeking greater controlover the construction ;or ; these reactors;: the French .Government brought abOi!t a ireorganiiation: 'of the;nuclear indtistry in recent monthii:and I increaied thepower Of ; the pommissariati l'Energie4toMique. Therelationship! with Westinghouse I Win, .alteredltO permitit greater French, cOntributiOn to the preiiur1ied4aterreactor, technology, 11 but !France 'intends to , Maintaincooperation with Westinghousedin,:tOrder,to benefit ;from US'ireactor oPeratingi experience l and to sustainforeign COnfidenee, In French export I ?I? ; France, ;which leads the world In' fist Ireeder reactor11, ;11experience, is depending nn commercial application Of !Its fast breeder reactor sY+rn to :help ineet;iti: long-term ,'needs ? for !electricity and hasI reached anagreement with West Germany to to.; Cooperate in thiseffort. The cooperation,. Which probably will begin tobe implemented : in late 4476 or early 1971, will resultIn an improved !fait. breeder leactirt teChnologY, thatwill advance the current West lGerman technology by,several years.. Because West ,GerinanY i11, Shire the,:initial expense of building fast breeder, .reactOrs; Whichare I about.140 percent i MOre costly Wild than;.ti -I?;1.pressurizedfwater reactors; ;early; fast breeder reactormodels can be introduced-in greater nuMbers into; thePower ; networks Of both!! cOintrieS1 Cooperation,reportedlY1, be , -eitoinded to Include joint. divelOpment!.. and construction of high-temperaturereactors,, but France, tigging !West Germany by man;'? ? years in this technology, has not been emphasizing theI ; ; ;.higtoeniperature.,reaCtor in its energy Plans.France hopes to bring eight 1,200-MWe fast breederreactors WO operation in the;1980s; The success of theFrench fist ,breeder. reactor, ,hOWeYer, is riot assured:,With Italian and'Wiest Gernianlparticipation, Franceis !just now beginning to build 'Super 'Phenix,' a1,2004MWe commercial prototype Of the fast breeder'poweill stations that; are planned for the ',1980s. ThisprotciYpe;hai been developed from; The, design used inthe 50-MWe "!'fl" 'plant. at ,l;Marcoule, adernotistration plant, that has; operated quite smoothly ;fOr, more than 2 yesit'sJ The succeSs of Super Phenix willrequire 'several imp' rol Ivements clYer! Phenix!, however;Including an improved lsteaM generator?thecomponent which has caused difficult problems in theBritish and ;Soviet fist breeder Firogrami.;111t1in;othelrl StiPeri;Phe lnillxlwhichllWa. notdeinonstrated. in! the; Phenix, plant' is long fuel life.;About 10! percent of the Nei in the :Super' Phenix.1, ,reactor fuel elements Must be consumed,' , before; theele,rnerits: are replaCed, in l! Order to; keep fuel re;, "prOcessing' and fabrication , costs to an;acceptable rleYel. Little' , More; than half that :COnsumption isreached , in Phenii,' and there iSlividence that furtherfilel I! research and ,developrnentl will be 'required toichile%/e the Super, Phenix goals.If  the Silk!. Phenix power station operates smoothlyH . , ; ?acCordingito its specifications,: the ,French and -West,German partneri ;may have l a l'commtrcially feasiblefast hreeder reactor system in the late 1980s. There isno indication' that th French have an alternative planin as the Super Phenix encounters Serious' problems;, . ,they i haveconcentratd their efforts on' developing afast ,biveder 'reactor 'System to the;i; !near exclusion orother arivanlmd.,. iyitems. It is however, that,'France ! wOuld . prornOte.. wider ,apPlication of West,GerMan.i high-temPeriatur& reaCtor I technology andWider Uselof IplutorikiM in Presrized-water,reaCtOrithan! is: now !planned should, Super Phenix run intoSerioai troirble.!! I:,,NT ALDISCUSSIQN,: 'BACKGROUNDjThe Commissariat a l'Energie AtmiqueCEA),subordiriate,to the Ministry for Industry and Research, .Is responsible for nuclear reiarch, and developmentVI and also for production .of uranium, plutonium, and"  , othermaterials needed ,in the! nuclear field. The CEA? 1.was !founded in 1945 for the :primary 1 purpose of'developing nuclear weapons, 1 and .military applica-tions Still receive about half the annualCEA budgetedfunds.' In the 1960s,, GEAlit gas4raphite!'plutoniumproduction , reaetor!! design!! ritodified1; for electricj: power generation and several power Plants were birth,. .the result . of , an,: ever-increasing ircommitment, :to :the? .development Of peaceful nuclear 'power.,  Towards the ;' endjlIetlithat;IIIdecade,' the ;!FrenchGovernment reexamined its power reactor technologyin 'light of the increasin popularity of the US light-water reactor types. The French I,perceivedlight-water reactors to be the best :bet: in; maintaining an ,advanced position, in this important technol-ogy.',  ! In 1989 it was decided that the expansion of nu- !?? clear Power generating capacity would be based on USlight-water reactor, technology. Until recently, therewere : two French II companies licensed Itb, build'. US-, ? , , .7! designed reactors: :?FiamatoMe (451' percentWestinghouse, 1 51' percent I Creusot-Libire)! held alicense ; to build J' Westinghouse ,I pressurized-waterreactors, 1 and , Compagnie Generaleld"Electricite(CGE) held a license to build the:JOS:General ElectricCompany's boiling-water ? reacteri.'3', These' lei:range-menti included a' technology exchange that wouldallow thi'Fiench'acciis to all Improvements, Made inthe USIIdesigns.3i ;This Iij1reduced role On the? nuclear 1, power Program to.; the ;;development ofadvanced reactors; such as the East breeder reitchior andthe high-temperature reactor, and the 'developmentof small !pressurized-water,; reactors , fer' I naValpropulsion. 1 ?1 ?II'Light-water reactors, ?including boiling-water reactors andpressurized-water reactors, use ordinary water rather than heavywater and their fuels require slightly enriched Uranium (3 percent? , ! ?ItF. I, 1,The . use Of US !technology Seemed partieularl ,appropriate after 1the energy 'crisis ? prompted rapid:,expansion of, nuclear power. Construction of the US.:J. .'reactor : types allowed the Maxirriuin Commitment tb1?:',actual power plant construction With: the least effc4itt!required In R&D. It also improved France's position as:aneXportei of nuclear power, PlentO at a time when1? ,, , ?these exports. would be needed to ,reduce the cost ofbuilding,. the large number :of domestic Power, plants, , , . I!enviiaged.,3,1 .1 ? ?II,Thelaccelerated nuclear, power. program ! decided!Upon in March 1974 called for .18 power reactors to be.! ibegtir, In 1974, and 1975 and to be Put into service! ,.:10761 and119810,1,j The plan was to i order six morli.. :reactors ?every yetit. to 1980, with the goal of havingi;. jabetit! 50pOwer'reactori by 1985 generating 70 percent.Franeelk.of ''SJeetriety140nd Meeting B8 percent 'of its:: , ? II  , ' ? , . ? , , : ,,JItotal l energy needs,3/ In. January 1075 :the! government!decided to. Igo rahead. with .Cconstruction  on 12 new:Poi4r reactors during 1976 and 1977,2 but Electricitede '.France ,(EDF)! Was,: in a poor i position to finance!"I *itch! a programf and I requested a ' slower pace. Thek,! , 1!?!,:'!annual goals in .the Years to corne.1.:; to these I;clielsicini,11 also. began to have reservationsg4:',for reactor construction through 1977! but decided tOi!:,: avoid longer-range Ccommitments I ,by ;determining 0'!public, which had OotbeenIcOnstt,Iteicl? oi, r notified priorj, After a review, ' the ',government Upheld the schedule' Jli I Hj,.1:1 i? JJII , :1 J.1., .1: 1! ! ?. Lata! in '1975 the , government I also 'announce1 .. . , , 1 , . . ., -.! changes LO be made in the struoture!.of:the Frenchnuclear industry. trathatome. was ' chosen as the sole'reactor itippliii;? the French market could not provideitwo, suppliers !with, !enough : OrdersIto .keep production J!:costs at; ci,rt, aCcePtahle, level.? Also; 'negotiations were!! b4tin' With I Fram'atome"s 'parent 'companies toIpurchase from Westinghouse a 30-percent share to be :: held by the. CEAJ?he CEA T was itself I reorganized:i I,I. I, ,into research group and a separate industrial group!: The objective was to bring: private Industries in the.nuclear fuel cycle (notably Frariatorne'and Pechiney41?Preivlouil) the construction .iiie envisaged was only 2 to a, , :reactors per year.' i ; 1 ? i 1 ' 1. . ? ' ? 'r!!' '?''''.1?i:' '1 ? ' i; j it? ' . , , 1 ? : l': , r 1: .1 :!.. I .' i : : tONFI? , .,,J ; ; i , ' -: ', ? ' .,. ; .;' 1; 1; ;- ; ? ' , J ? 1: ; :1.- ,, : ; ? ;;:!.?,: 'I, ? ?!"-;.: 1, . .,. . , ; :,' ';', ,-:!' .;1?14g1:;:,; 1 '. ,.,-,,I .1, - ::,.T; - ;?1 111gine-Kulilmann) into a closer relationship with the: :.. ;CEA, and to establish a Strong iiinified, French:effort In'the construction ' of, power:, reactors ' for :the domestic,program , and for export. ,. :?,..,. . , 1.!:,;.:;i ;i; , . ?  ,, , I ?,; ,i I : 1;'? :';' i'11-;; ? ;1,:'; - ', '1111'!;'; ;;;."1 :1. ,-; :'.1.? ? .: , , ;,. ?? , ': ? ' ,Because. : of these developments, 1: Compagnie :: Generale1 d'Electricite ;''ii out i Of;11the boiling-water: .,?reactor business in Franc*, and light-water reactors (tobe built ,at least inte the 1890s in, Fiance) Will all be of, . , .the pressurized-water type., The CEA has reentered thepower , 'reactor : construction business 1, bringing :to. ,- iFramatotne its experience' In small pressurized-waterI, fpropUlsiOn :reactors and l otheri,,Frenohl technology.i resulting! from 1 light-water, 'reactor studies., ,Conie-;. ;quently, :I the: French 'COverninent1ha ;regained the.1  ?. iiinvolVetnent in nticlear)ndustry that it lost in the 1869_ ? ;switch to US reactets.?'!; 1- ? ' 1 li,1 J1 '. , i H:ILL11;1:11.".''..111:1_,:._Li:NEW STRUCTURE OF THE ,FRENCH NUCLEARINDUSTRY.. r I . 'I! :!l,H :1?:)/ .: .i; 1: 1M Hli ?. I . ? CEA: Administrator '1 Andre.. 11;Giraucl ' has : ' been, ..?; 'Concerned since 'his appointment lin; i970 1 with. , . ., , ,. ? , ,.1 ? . , . . .  . ; t .. ,,, ? ..,reorienting the CEA's activities, Itiii, assi,st and control!more 'directly :the Industrial application of nuclear.. , 1 . ;., ;en.ergy. in France;: At the same i time. he has sip ught to1: . ;reduce the . size : of the '1organization '1i:11, creating1 'subsidiary'? Companies': to Provide ,.?Varichii PiodUction:?,..? ; : . 'services. Gitaigt has been lappointed to a second 5-year;;term 'to implement iiai recent reorganization of CEA's:ownedPrograins into, a research group ;and. a:wholly ,owned industrial subsidiary.'' 1[.1,111111; 1 1 L. ' ? . ; ; L."; ;,- ;;; 1 ;;! The industrial ?suLsidiary is degema;SA, Compagnie' Generali! des' ,Matieres,11,Nueleaires;11. !its managingdirecter i is Andre Cireed.o, ,Having : inherited ;:alt, the;responsibilities for : prodiiition:Of; nuclear materials'ineeded in the nuclear fuel cycle, 8;806 employees, and; :facilities ; throughcgit Frinee,71Cagetrialli I intended to ''finance a growing portion Of its Own activities through ,; !sales Of matetials ;'and Servieei,HICEAL1aetivities;,ini ii . 1thiniuen extiloration and;mining,uraniumconversioni' ' ' '. ?11 ''"'';.1'and enrichment, reprocessing of .1i:radiated fuel, andi :,1,, ? ? IradioaCtivet Waite,' 'ManigeMerii'lieMailii:nearlY,' '---... : i! '? -'' I 1' !, I fl!fli I:1;1 f!,;1[1:;14, ,,j;;,1:ilThe CEA's newly created Institute of Fundamental Research l'; 'Involved in the study of plasman plij4ici'Ind controlled iftisibm; ' ?. ?.. 1 7' n ? '1 physics of, condensed states, . particle lphysics, nuclear physics, and '? ' i biolog), f The reorganizatiOrk; Should ;' imprOVi. . the :I cooperailon;? ; , .; between CEA research groups ead the National Center for Scientific? 1 Research.l. Also included in the ? civilian', research: group aiiiiiii ,laboratories and a new Institute for Nuclear Protection end Safety,.' 'f- ? 11'.,;;" 1 i I : ; ;. ' i ,i . i ? ;- ;i ; ;. 1' ;'!1' ':',' .;1.1.'';WI; :-_.. i , . . 1 i ? 1 ? il ' -H, ' - 1 l'!; I ii; ' ;1;-!;;fl; ; I '1 ' i ' , li ' ' ; ' 11;' ? ' ''' imminiiimk,:?k ' , ', r; 1! . ;; ' ,1'.:: 1 ' 1;'1,-,';;I:111 ,!II, . 1 '': '1,1 I; 14I ? : ? t.1 ; ','t,::')fri?i ?';. . : . , . , ;unchanged. These :activities will be discussed in thesection dealing with the French: nuclear Net cycle.? :,; ;;The major change in the French nuclear industryresulted from CPA's expansion,into the pressurized-water reactor ;coni,truction business: The CEA , nowholds a 60:percent , share Of Frainatomell andreportedly will shortly Purchatel a share of Eurofuel,"the company set up by Westinghouse,' Creusot-Loire, .?and, ;Pechiney-Vgine-Kuhlmann to fabricate piessuilied-wter reactor! fuel." Westinghouse still retains,:;, 15 'Percent: of, Framatome, but these shares will beturned ?Vet', to Cieusot-Loirel,' in 1982: when theWestingh;ouse license expires.". 1 ? '?11 I1.; ,T e French want to maintain a close relationship ..;With tWestinghousel after 1982 but do; not intend 'to 'relnew their, license. Framatnme wants prospective''foreign buyers to view its reactors as proven US models, ;1with some 'srrialllIFrench Improvements, and the,;donet! tic I cuitomer,1; Electricite 'de France, Wants to:, have he benefit of 'US operating experience' On the,, ,!other! 'hind, I thel French! are leager to become'Independent, in the political sense" and to remove the'noces'sityl; ol 1 obtaining ; Westinghouse 1',(hence US,GOvemment),;.apprOval., for , exports to Communist ''?;cciunirle05 it ;, has been proposed that in 1982F t'- ? , ,  , . ? ?? J. ; 1 '' : ]--? Framatome ; and i Westinghouse. :will Institute a' ?,YceeperatiOn.'agteernent .taking into 'consideration the"' 1.?:1?1;; 1: . ; ? .., 1technical:: capabilities of each ;at ;that time In the: 1'.: 1;  .. 1:' i I I! ? , , is ! ' I Htneantime,,Frarnatome, Westinghousei1 : and the CEA'.will, eachl contribute 30 million francs annually to ajoint reieatch' program" aimed at iinprciving steam' 31.":.generator 'and. at; Studying ! fuel element vibrationi,  emergency' cooling . reactor : cores,' and any, oilier'areas agreed Upon1itthe future.' ' 111,11 : 11.:: ; ?1 ,1 ? ' l; 111 , 1 11;; ? ; .. ;-.1;;;;;;; 1;;;; .; ;I : ;'? .;? pi CEA and Cre SOt4..oite irelnowlpartners in the,, censttuatien of, 'adVaneed , nuclear ; Power 'stations iswell. They arel principal ' :shareholders in , the ,neWt::',J! e COrnpany:!;Novatome (CreusOt-toirel 46 percent, CEA' l.,:' 30 p reek', I CGE , 6 peicent);', which , will build fast: - 1b:r11 ee.:,.  di.1 e?r;  ,.   reactors,  a1 .r1;  d Ii l  h:igh1:4,,  -e1 m1l ' p1 e,r, atui;  re.,'  reactors"} C: onsaiietion Of thel-P on,henix demonstration fast breeder ?.,..1. ;;? 1 1 i, ?,i peW4::Station'aild1 development, of, the future SuperPhenix Plant had be' en carried eUtll::), the .CEA with a ..,-.subsidiary ' :of ,. 1CGE ' Oilledj: 'CroUpernent pour les? .,-,Activities ;' AtorniqUes1; ,Aveneees ;1(GAAA). i High'. !! teiniprattire reCtor deVelopinent in Ranee hid been, 7.! , , 1 'the1iprovince Of :the, CEA.; and a IfireitiPlof FrenchIndustries ' Which! Were ' ada ting US ;technology to ,,???,.; i' 1 '11'1..1 ' '? ' ;: :'''1': ? 1 All i ';', ;I I ''''' 1 i :' '' ? ' ''' '''' : ; l'' , 11 ,, , !:: 1 .? ' ! 1 , , !.::. ,: :1;; , i :,,,:n.1, , itii  , ? ;.1 i" .:11'' ' 'i,' ..; 1.1IDENTIALI.I: European: requirements throUgh',an agreement with'. .240 MTEP is considered to be a . firm value, for the!General Atomic.4i .The establishment of; :NOvatotne,? , centralized the French. reactor construction industry,Isimplifying the : connection 'betweeni Governinent', . ,' energy. !goals, CEA research and.. development., andprivate 'nuclear industry, : : -'1,  "fi;;;.i 1,1 ' I il ? '? ',;1 !, , 'Another reason I for ! creating I.J.Novat I me, was to ! load.facilitate Cooperation !I between !I France !! and 'West time; Germany in the development and exploitation of East: 'refu heFrench no experience ;Because It ,have 'hi,' ' ? ' ' ' 'breeder reactors and .highitemPeieture!,iiiictors.16,: In the operation of,lati'e pressurized water reactors, this iXtiFebruary ; '.1976,' il- the French iincV.,iWeit ; German I somewhat SPeCtilatiVe and may b'e 'oPtmiitic. i ? 'Governments 'agreed Iiiii!!, pod, .ithe';'; resOUrces and 4 I!, H. 'i!: :! .,.!! .11.11. ii,:,T,I,I1'. I .!:k.'I'?including .; the establishmenti! 'Of ll'FrEineo-German ' ; '42,000.' MV,V(net) ;i:,)' nuclear Plants bY 1985; if only;;!subsidiary companies to undertake he cbnititictiOnof ' ! ,because ??31 the l Ocertaint "of French .Planners. Itif,advanced nuclear 'powei:Statieris'i0INoVatemeWill be i addition,' , there isl Ino guarantee, that demand: for-.!:.electricity . Will, be sufficient to fustifY! the Projected. the French ' parent company' Of ,anY, joint :,subsidiarynuelear power,. generating. 'capacity. " The French',formed , to . carry !out' the Ili agreement.'!,, : joint ' :development and; construction' of high-temperature eStimated, in late r75 that electricitY, would have to 'reactors,. , will :be the responsibility' Of a i subsidiary increase Iits , penetration of 'industriallmarkets by 70.holding a West, German license. but !these 'activities .percent ,and 'residential and Other , markets. by 1861? purposes 'of this diicbssion.' I. ?To, generate -MI ,IvITEP, of , electricity. from nucletirl-,plants 'in.:. 1985,..! Franc*: :Will"' need.; about. 42,006,!,,',MW(net) Of 'installed nuclear capacity' This: assumesi. that French nuclear power plants haite:an'averaie!factori'pf ;,70 P?rCent and l: no shutdowaside from . the ! 3 weeks !seheduled 'annually fOri,,I.capabilities of each:cobni'rY4in.theie ivki technologies', H It is not, !clear at' France will be able to buil,,must await West GermanIdeciiiOni on thedirection ofPercent In order fOrI electricity' to account for a largef: . i  its own I high-temperature!reacibr,'?!Prog7ini.!;',I. '1! ...'enbUgh fraction oi Site! energy consumptionin 1985 20,I ; H ; ....,Use of electricity lin 1985' will have: to more than1; !construction subsidiarY;I: 'Technicatorne,s,which will tOtal' energy consumption is projected, ta, increase;?- little more than 40 Percent.4.4,' .1 ?!:water ,Ireactors. '.TeehnicatOrni",: :has 'developed 1'1 ; 1. 111 ; ?; ? 1; 1; .1 ?!! ? ; l'An examination: Of ,the likely 1985 ,French ?nuclearlpressurized-water ,teactor. ; designs for !various 1- ; .1; ; ? . .capacities', ;based French, '  ,power capacity, ipased upon!, nuclear power ptaniThe cE.;,? apparently, iwill ;retain ts own reactor . double; the consumption estimated for ! 1975, while,,continue its develOpinent of smell :French Pressurized l?,naval construction plani, is discussed thr.- followingpropulsion reactors, - I.O.fferelt1 tnese,!!poWerOaMaraPhs.! AlthOUgh, the PoWer from seVeral FrenCh?systemsiOn the ?Pen inarket.1.94INI !"! ' , '.1! .! II y l ; ;! ,1 ! plants , be , shared with Utilities In 'neighboring'1NUCLEAR PO ER PROGRAM ',OBJECTIVES UP countriesi, !reciproOl arrangements involving foreign!.I 1985 , 111, nuclear power. plants', will makei the overall French;:I. !11:1! ; .,, , '!,1 ' If I ' nuclear CapaCity nearly unchanged !!.111 III 11 ?!,The French plan for, 'energy 'Production balls for a 41',The net Capacity of existing ;nuclear, plants is abou, rrapidly!'l increasing conribution ,fibrn powerstatiOnct France ;IX planning' tO'increaie the 'MHO of 2'94? MW. R.1985 the capacity 'iof,; these plarits:; 1 !, ! ; I! probe ly, will e ' educed to; about 2,000. UnderH,' d t ' total'' '  ' ' ed" delectricity Consume oenergycosu , and is  44 4 rely solely , ! , !! for all construction are six! plants ordered before' the program:.prepared to rely solely On nuclear power,reactors tor aii   ? was aCcelerated. These planti,l'Ithe first Of which wiill'! inew pOWer,stations.!!,, The goal, Is to getrate 'a, fourth begin operating in! 1977,24 will atItl, 5,590 MW(netof all It i energy, in itneilar power ; statiorisIbil 1985, '. when coMplete, When the program was accelerated,1while limiting its total annual energy eimsnmption to ,'EDF ordered from Framatorne 12 plants whichthe eqUivalent of , 2401Millioni, tonnes] ,b!, petroleum sOiieduled to be operating 4,1981, with a capacity Of t_29lb' b '?(;MTEP)." AlthOtigh ; the actual itatal. i,inergy !  ! ', . I  ! !, . i., , ;E:4, ..,: .;!, ,. .;!1.! ? iii ,, ,?:1'"! i :, , ,,to.kliowatt'?houn Of electricity is based On a heat value of.41 milliOn.,-:'.arid 10 percent , BTU Pei' tfine of petro eum and! a! power, plant efficiency of 314',:'!!pereeht.11 ! 1 ! ' ! ! - ..! .   1 i; ' ?I. ! -5 ill?consumption in ;1985 may well ,',%iary from this goal, ' ?Convenio;i from the nergy represented bY a tonne of petroleum? I:I :t !''  ?Technicatome is owned 90 percent . the Cby Electilcite de France. . 11:4'teMEIDAV.L1A.I.: I11,060 MW(net)-;23 Although these 12 Plants Probablywere all 'scheduled- to be under. construction beforemid-1976,. , several ;ApParently,:?;bave hOt iyet beenstarted. i l'..' :. I : ' ' i Ji'll'i;;?,:' ;'4';  Following the. 'government's !-AuthbrizatiOnjor six; new; projects ;to ibegin)n 1976;:lancI :in,1,1,p7.7, pt.?,  ,converted : four !options,' , to I firm! order i i, and gaveFramatome seven new orderS.:1''ACCordini , to mostreports these plants: ire! Oil sehedilled to biOperating. :.; , ; 1: iIn ,the! early , 1980s,! 'contributing: ' a bout. :11,400.. ,. .1 , I I, jMW1(net).:Theseiarne reporti Correctly, projeCted thatfour Or! five additiOnal:PIants 'WI:Mid be atitliorized forconstruction in 1978 and 197.9.:and that. these plants!  ; - ;would li add about 10,500 IvI*1,:,,Of I net! 'Capacity."Together with the planned SuPer,Pheni,xliist breederpower l' 'station . and al Similar ',follti%Vion' Which isantieirited by, 1985, [these; Plants: watild make up- about 142,000; myv(iei)1 of Installed: 'nueletiir powergenerating capacity; when coniplete. :SeVeriil; of theseplants I;probably :I will III?e COMpleted ;:durini 1985,however, and thus will not be: contributing much tothat, year's energy ProdiCtion! J'. ',..ft'l 1 1:; I, '1  1I I' - - .. , . il : ' ',Id, .,11 i!,?;!':i :;; il: ?;;',1.1,, ,;There' is evidence that not lill'o.f the t 'Orders givento' Framatome under !the', plan for Itro 'iaiiii. 1977 arescheduled for operation  by 1:985',,Rather,;,theie plantsmay; COme 'on ;line' frorni1,981:to:.'19813; with perhaps', seven plants cOntilbuting, 6;801MW(ne,t) by 1985.'? The rationale to're;thii!ProCedure!Woidd6o,to' iiirOyide ?Franiatorn with Airdiri at a1 ple4rate,s!indi thus torealize Som?whO lOweii.,!iittiductiin ,Costs.* the isirni!time: EDF 1 would avolil,?aniovercommitment ' by.spreading completion ditii dyer #:longipii,lotid:lie EDFMay have order4onlyiifeW plants to come On line ini the 'early 19805,' : with I the !. intention :of ! orderingadditional 'plant's' fori these Years: in ;1978 and ,1979when : demand IS .! clearer: .ThiS ;:Plati .Winikl: . make42,0001M W(net) livery 'Idifficult ,te) achieve [b.); .11985,'r II:   i'  I 1:1 , H; , 1' 4 ;11 rIn 'anticipation' of the, government's' authorizationfor Orders for 1978and '1979,; EDF 'announced options, , , - ,, ,on eight plants and aPparently was planning, to givefirm' orders ,in :1978 for two 1;300-MW' planti and atleast one; ' 9004AW!1;plant.,!1 The ; Government; 'II; ill .;;,! tilt ; I ; 1, ;;;;;:::' I ! 1 ' !:i ;:' , i 1: ; I  , ?Frarnittbme required long-range Ordeii 'Upon syhich to base a1 ' two-fold expansion of:its Production facilities. Ca City ieportedly' ' ? .;1 III t. i ; 1'8-8 units year."  :Ii1,..1.?sUbiequently decided to authorize construction oI 5,000 &me of I:capacity. 1978,2,7 So that EDF'! 'probably will order two--1,300-MW plants and thr4',!900-mw, plants. !If, these plants and thOse authmizid,for 1976 and 1977 are intended to bccorne operatientil;, over an eXtendcdPeriod, then The 1985 goal of 42,000-:IIs4 147(net) capacity;certainly Will be 4Pveral?thousand megawatts. After stretching the orders fOr; 1976 arid 1977 Out' to 1988,, it would take six 1,300-MW plants begri: in 1978 tind as many in 19790reaCh !the 1985 !  Ii The French Government has been 'Under increasing'HI 1;pressure since 1974 to reduce the 'pace of power plantConitrution. OPponents :cite 'uncertain safety ;Ofnuclear iplants" and threats to the environment.3 The.risirg oast of nuclear power has also been noted; as OfJanuary, 1976 thZlcost of a 900-MWe nuclear powZiplant was reported to be 2 billion francs" (about 450Million dollars), tiP 50 percent from the cost when the,expanded 'program was launched." Crities hadrepOrtedly negligible 'effect On the plan'approved l?. 1976 and 1977; opposition'at the ,time was primariliestiicted to residents protZstingi local reactor sites.The ci4ticism 'did,; however, ;result :in increased; attention to safety checks :and measures which haveLadded at least 6 Months to the time of construction,!noW estimated to 1e 5.5 year's if no Serious problem'4 I!iii.41,, 6ii: :cou,iiHte,red, 1 ..i,1 1 i ., pemands fOr stislowdown I,in reactor construction.' 'Mai .have! hac:1, More! infl?ene on the plan for 1978'.,. irid , 'probably ': Ialiol! will Play; 'a 1 ' greater role 'il In: determining Oture plans: Already; the: Governmenthas indirectly ackMAyledged that *the goal Set for 1985:may not be practi al, when It announced that l=term ;CoinMitnients! Would be ;replaced by short-term1: 1 long1 ; . .program   m an ageme nt.?1  I:'! !the overall objective : 1 1remains the same, however-='!? rediiced,dependence on imported oil through rellanCeon nuclear power plants. The extent to which this'substitution can be effected by 1985 is seen ?to be a, ! Complex' function, of interdependent Variables, which'," PricludZs precise assessment either by the French or by,I , : '1 II ' It -I I IMiscalculations" and construction errors", have added severalimonths to the construct on time of France's first large pressurized-.' Water reactors, although the French miPect this 'problem to taper off'i ,i with experience., . ?1'TIAL':. ? ' ,1 ; -; 1: 1, . 1t ? ? .' 11 ''' t ? 1 ; 1 ''': I [' ? ' ' 1 i ". , ; . ; .  outside:observers...It is; Problible,1.i,hOwey'er,: that: theFrench ,will construct at ;leas( 34,000. MVV.(net)! of- , nuclear power generating capacity.bY 1985.; It is likelythat plants totaling 38,000-MW(net) capacity Will be. . ,operating by that time It, Is 'possible, ;butt not likely,? - ?.. . . .. , . ,. . ....,that 12,000-MW(net) Capacity, Will be relichect1These'i ? :t plant capacities corresPOrid rexPeCtii,ely tO1prOdUctionof 20 percent, '22.5 percent, and 25 percent of the[-... . ;energy (projected ;; to be' consumed 1 in! 1985.. The,.corresponding figure ' for 1975,:!'estimOte,d ; to , be 2.5: 1percent, I Xhows that France will lignificsntlY alter its. ,' energy sources in favor of nuclear reactors regardless oft whether;lhe stated 'goal 'for 1985 is' aebie4d..1 i I ' ? 1France; also has plariS..tO build , small 1 Prets;urized-water reactors. The CEA' has dei4lOPeci these reactors. .:' separate from' the: ;French' nuclear! Pin'v'et. program,.t t t, t- ,based, on experience' :with their: 110m14, Propulsion'reactor. Ii An integratedilpreSSUri;ed4iiteil reactor.'prototype, namedCAP,1.Went: critical I in ;November' 11975 '0'1 the CadirechelInuclear:. research :, center.,: Reportedly, it will I'be adapted:. tio',1Serve 'as 'th'e, power' , plant for 'a 2,500-ton nuclear attack submarine 'and1. /1 perhaps for a nuclear powered helicopter !carrier." ;11 , , 1.111. i t 1:1 ,_,,,,H11111'11111.4;.t '1 ' 11.11,-1111 I1i 't The prototype also will be useci.to test CininpOnents'(heat. I exchangers, t PpuMPs,1 fuel);:lin1.1deilciPing ; thesesmall reactors for 1indti3trial aPpliCatiOnX and power' 1produCtion.' ' Teehnicatoine: his141deilgneci integrated''systems Of up to 3.10 megaWatiStIthermai (lieiWt) and,loop Systems of ' 41' to 111,100.1,11k4Wi." I The: !CEA? ;reportedly 4 studying the possibility of bnilding a 100-' ,M Wei reaCtOr. near piennl?1e foi.,bOttir electrical power;production and district heating.7 Siiiiilai,PitOjects maybe contemplated for ROilen and :SiralaY. Small nuclear? powerplantsmay Most valuable to tth French*' become. as , inleittpOrt Item,.hc;weVer.t.11:*ech,nieiticnne Ist 'marketing bOth integrated land lootYpeiYstems and, hopes i to: find customers In less .de;Oeloped, countries..1;that WoUld like nuclear ptiwer !int-thai Cannot:Make;effective use of standard, large' reactors. I' 111' t?1 ? 11 111 1 1 iii1. 11' "11 ? I 1 '"t111I'11?1111 11'1, 1'11' ' ;'1 The use I of . low-grade, nuclear , heat : for 'districtheating and the use of waste heat:in 'cOOlint: water for, ,; ? ; t i t 1 t;agrictiltural/aquaeultUral . appliCations",,: ha. ve Alsoreceived increased- attention in CEA research' over the'1 Past 2, Years: r The 'Wirth Wateil. iiitrini frOM",..the third; . and fourth Saint Laurent power reactors, which t: ,scheduled to enter:: 'service: in I the: early 11980s,?1 is: intended to be. used foiellt heating local.'greenhiMies1.0 i*? ? ft'i ?'' l- - 1'1- I, L,:: iliii!tH 'it''1: ti l'4t; !.1111!I, fit il? 1 ., i,i ,ti-,I itli, ! : :tliti!t ? : ? i ?,4 i; ., ;, I tlf!I IP ? ' ,,H, ,tIlF ''. 't!. * ? '', i ? ! , ; .i 1? 1 . 1, : . 1-. ill : 1 i 1DEMI/A???,q 11 . HI.1  '? i ? I ;; ; ?:i ? ' I. ,.1,LONG7RANGEi, ENERGY, PLANS1; ' q1-11"141?1:',11 111 -1'1111Pressurized-water:, reactors. will be : built in Francewell into. the .1990s t sitt, least., Beginning in the 1980ihoWever,1: the -French are planning to ? introdtice11'1',breeder' reactors . intb commercial ,Operation. Severe "10'different factors contributed; in1yarying degrees, toadOption1of this plan. 11 ti1t '1 11i 1i, ' t!.. t ? 1'I t. It 11 ? .1'1 ;14:4; Hi -.I; ?1: ,1The most important reason for developing breeder,;?;reactori is the need to make more, effective usetiuranium;! resources! ' At the present rate of reactor,",it?construction, lighitwater reactors Will soon exhaust the;11...,'world's easily.mined uranium deposits.; In the case of I:France, 'those reactors which have 1: already been1,!7:11:ordered from, Frainatoffie , will consume, over their'1:11texpected It 30-year 'lifetime, t MOM than 'I the 62,000.1111'tOnnes of Uranium t that make bp' the :Mostdornestic reserves. With the 'growingdemand foriIraniurn,lminint Operations will have to be expanded,partieulailY as. low-grade and lhard-to-work depositX1,1,1are :tapped,. Eventually, the amount of low-grade. o .; :?that Imust , be . removed and treated 1to,' extract the,01uranium Iwould reach environmentally unacCeptablell :1'propOrtioni if only'light-water reaCtOrs were built. The?-tFbreeder reactor is expected in ,iiise uranium 20 to,50 itimes! More effectively than light-water 'reactors, which;only !make use of 'about 1 percent of the Uranium k., ,it', itWhiletli'n problem of limited uranium supply. i 1; 'i11generellyirecognized, the date by which more efficienireathrs ,would be I needed ' to 'avert severe iiraniurn';Xhottages1is widely debated 40 .1..;I: : ; ? I It' : 111 ' It. ': 11? ' I Another :' reason Which. ti,iell French , 'Cite. for:: Iaggressively pursuing fast breeder reactor development, 'tis ,thel unreasonable demand foi, uranium enrichmentvviiieli si prolonged' light-water r]eaCtor Program would,-;Create.4!. COnverselY, the, lowerl., fuel cost i for . breeder.reactOrs1,1 which, 'results. when uraniuM1enrichmentsubt,rected,1alsO perrnits a higher capital Cost for thesesysterncl it.111 '' ,., .. 111111, ,,? , ii , , ;, ,, ,. : ,.; ,,, .  ; , . , ...- Thi French. have' id more, 'snceess in fast 'breed..4reacicir development than even they, had expected1,11 :; ,  , -, tThey 'hope ,to translate:this suCCess into a .commerciti,,It'',advantage; tlperhapi 1ultimately ; through Refinerarraniements with; other if coltintries as 'Westinghousedid 'With PresiuriZedlivater reactor!. France not onlyintends ici base its long-range; Mielear1PoWer program 'indigenously developedIS;sHte. nlibit.: alsoplansH.tj tO:its fast bieederlreactc.X1.4,! It Is thislatter aspect::?  .,1,ti" . ' Li' - !;!"; it: t. ? 111 t, ' !; it . 111,111 l'11!111 11i.; lit' 1 ;I?11tl,, ,, it,"1'I , . , : ,. probably', more .than any other, that prompted Frenc?plans for early construction of fait breeder ieacters. Afirmly *ablisbed lead With respect to other YVestemsuppliers: Would help aiinie a market for the Initial' ? ?f?? I. e4.11 breed'generation o French comm , reactors.,? Similarly; 'prominence in fait' breeder ? reactor! ? , ? - 1,development has allowed France to negotiate nuclear? cooperation agreements from a ,?position Of :Consider-- ,H able strength. !I ', ,?? , . ?VStatui of the French Fast Breeder Reactor Program ?? ? !! ? !, I ;; The French fast breeder reactor prograM has been!, ? 'discussed extensively inl the Open liteintiire It is?f generally; agreed that the French have achieved themost success ? to date based on the performance of the? '250-MWe Phenix demonstration plant,atiMarcoule. The plant has operated. for, mOrethatilyeari with few'unscheduled interitiPtiOni.? the,YntnableOPerating!experience Which provided. not be; 'obtained : in this countryilfor'manryeiri..-11!'1. ;!? ..? ? ,?,1111!ri. iML,1 ;1!?; The French lend:Is attributed .to goOdl'proginin;:management, well:conrdinated.d research and;F.? ,development, and .n minimum Of 'different iPproaehes? , ?'pursued. Good program management resulted from?: :the 'ektension of CEA responsibilities for research Ind:development to participation in the design and testingOf equipment and in the constriktiOnof the plant. Theresearch ,and development Were ,PerfOrmed Primarilyby the, CEA nuclear centers at Cadaniche, and Saclay? With staffs that have not been. diiiiiPtelf over the?courseof the prOgram.". :While ti,ie,,piiited 1 States hasfunded a ',very :broad breeder research and' develop-ment program, exploring several possible solutions to a.single :problem and hoping also !Or;eventual 'spin-offs," thelliench have taken a narrower approach.Their goal Was to build an economical breederfeactor,and the minimum: numbeil of steiii'necesiniiiciieaehthat goal were Outlined and striedi:follMyed.0; The. ;? role of Phenixwas tO ;.deinonitrate:thnt nsOdium-cooIed fast :.breeder nuclear PO;)er .`itntien: Could '"lfunction smoothly .and safely and compete with otherpower' stations.46 Breedingperformance was j, not?emphasized, but it was expected that. plant Operations ?would allow an aeenratei prediction of thelbreedingeapabilitii. of future plants. I 1111?11JW ? J1,4 '; !:111?A three Part leries in the AAAS journal, Science, of 26 December1975, '30 January 1976.iland ,13i February 1976 provides a, gooddescription for the laY reader Of the Euippriii:bieeder programs.? f 1`, .1n.1111 -; . ..; : ?h i Two years of success , w tk. Phenix does not!!,necessarily mean that the French are close to,1.1...developing a commercial breeder reactor station. TwOily 'prerequisites, long Ifuel lifetime and an' economicai'dsteam generator model, have yet to be achieved and '1,1,may be closer to reality in the fast breeder programs of ',It  Other countries.. I .1  1ENtiAt.The other prerequisite, to developing a commercialbreeder nuclear power station Is the develOpment of an ;economical 'steam I'generator. The. 'steam 'generator ofthe Phenix !plint wsts Chosen for its IrelinbilitY andmaintainability, Anther thin for Its economic qualities., .1 :It consists of 1Q8 Small, Modules,' 36 per'1 steam loop,which is notfeasible for commercial plants because of/ the expense. The British and 0i,:iSoirie6,.1Who havelarge steam generators In their deniOnstintion breederplants, have had one problem after another'lwith,letilts.Plagued ;by 'mixing of 1420 and SOdiUrrilit Weld Sites,these plants: have produced little power. The ,Frenchhope to be 1, spared this trouble in their, 1200-114WeSuper Phenix plant, which Is designed itoihnve four750-MW,t steam generator's: The'tiene6 have adopted; a double-weld technique which leaves a gap betweenthe weld; that is in Contact with H20 an one side Of theheat transfer surface and the.weld'exPoSeditO Sodium" _ ,on the Other side' and are putting a 4574v1We model; ,steam,i generator through ; 'Prolonged, testri.61A final area to which French engineers' will have to. address themselves before achieving a, 'commercial. ? ;?Dozbitaig time is the tintOit takes'!the reaCtor to breed enoughmaterial to fuel a new Identical reactor." ? 'I, 1breeder nuclear power station is that 1 of thc-P,,,transient problems which will arise when the reactor issubjected to load changes. All experimentation with.Phenix has been done with constant 1 power output,according to information of December . 1975; Th,reasoning was that fuel characteristics of the Phenix,should be; established in the most Controlled niode'.1,before ' tests are 'Conducted in n fluctuating load, , ,situation. Consequently, the French reportedly cannot.predict , With any 'certainty how n plant ,,will operate'When its Ifuel , has been . subjected it to the melt-I,Ht,recrystallization cycles inherent to the operation of a',pectic load power station.5?- 1-1',Ii ICapitalizing On .the success ;Of Phenix,: France has,.Concluded; a ; number of . agreements involving thefl.construction of fast breeder 'reactors. The 1,200-MWellSiiiIier Phenix fast breeder nuclear power station will be:a Joint project with Italy and West Germany. Italy has'agreed to finance One-third of the 'project in return for:. :a 'corresponding fraction of the electricity 'produced a(F.,the ; Plant and access to French technology. West.!German participation was 'waned on a similar basii,,amounting to,16 Percent of project mists but, with notechnological involirement.:Inrettnn France agreed to,16-:percent funding l' of a future West German fastibreeder plant, to which Italy Would contribute a thirtl,11.,once I More.'" ' PlutOnium for the first!' core of Superj 'Phenix HriPParentlY1 will be provide i by the three:l'countries' according to their Participation:82I 11 't I t' I A, site for the Super Phenix 1,200-MWe, fast breederpitnirer station, has been chosen at., Creys-Nialville othe. Rhone, and Preliminary' Site :work i has begun.Official anthorizatiOn, for ! ;the Plant; scheduled :tofollow ; 1 year '', of successful : 'operation ' Of Phenix; Wiiiip,1expected ' in! the !sPring, 'of 1976;i bni: hns' Only recent! i 'been annotineed.:1A number i Of IT:a?sons have beegiven why the authorization was delayed and :whyil- plant construction Is not' expected to, begin until the'isummer Of 1976: Rising Cristi72; and the reorganization,Ci the French nuclear sector's are the most probable:1 w] 'il ; ,w1Hil;-1141' i' ,, 'II! illii! I .U?ift , , iENTiAL*. !.!The I rate at which these fast: breeders takeover thegrowti h Of nuclear electric generating capacity from?? ; ? .; the pressurized-water reactors probably will depend On-the:, extent :to which the: government(s) .are willing .to',11,? iubsidize1, the higher 'Cost, I Of Lbuilding fist'. breedi.4. rericiors.., The cost Of a fait breeder reactor built in 01:011to 1 Mid-1980X is estimated ito be! at least- 40t-1 ? ? .,  , ? ???1'Ipercent  above that ofrin equivalent pressurized-waterl,!,IreaciOr 25 Escalating COSti Of ? Uranium and uraninin.:fetiriclitient,! howeyer,!-, kreduce LI the overallI difference In cost utilities that build, and operate die i?,.?two types i An Unofficial goal'is Ito ;have 10,0991 Megawatts' Of installed fast; breeder reactor capacity yi);t1990'" hY1WhichAinii e lOWF Operating costs aret ?,? ;Make'. fast breeder; reaCtOrs cornpetitie;: with?pressurized-water l reaeters'.' possible that France':? Will have comMeiciallY, feasible, fast breeder reactor? . ,- tystemi' as 'early the late 180s.lt ; ; 'I ; ?, H 1!;Oth?ong-Ringe Nuclear er;:ct1;;II: t.;. . .There' is ;no. eiidence that' France has planned fithe possibility that. its fast breeder 'reactor may not be.*ready for 'commerCial application in the 1980s or thatt I ; ? .c,operatingicosts?may not make! the systeni competith'relwith -w reactors, but one :result-::1-.,, ?protiablY !Would Ibe a more' 'extensive use Of higlir? teMPeratiire reactors than is new 'Planned. France haI Pt.ut a , limited effort Into the '1development oftemperature ; reactors., ? About 7 percent of the 1974CF.A. budget for industrial applications Was devoted tO. ?, 1,, ? "tiightetnperature reactor, as Opposed to 40 percert: for ;breeder reactor.? In 1972 coOperaHori4,agreements; Were 'signed with Geieral. Atomic i3y the(EA and the Iiigh-TemperatUre1Reactor Constrution Company, it+up of French industries includingCreusot,,Loire (40 percent), COnipagniel Electromag-!1,Penetique 00 percent), 'PechineY4igine-Kilhlmann (20rr entYland CERCA '(20 'peiCerit): 1"1 : 11,1,,0 IPrObablithe most important cooPersition. for Francewill ; result i.frorn,,:thiel,irecentt decision by itheGOvernments Of I France: and Wes!, .Cermanyto pooltheir 1 technologies, in fast breeder ?' ierietoriI and?temperature reactors and ; to Wild; and .Market , them; jointly. The French Intention Is to assure greater.?? initiail.-;demand,1,:in11.'iuppOrtingl.rt a new reactormanufacturer, to reduce. the costs of tsubsidizing' thefirst several power stations, and: When the fait breeder.? ? plants become' cOrnipetitie :With,light-water :reactors,i. to create a strong EuroPerin supplier of these advancedtysterni.6,9 .. Aside !_from ,the economic benefits to: bederived: from this cooperation, hOwe4,er, there isO ? evidence that. West German technolOgy'and[resOurcesMay I significantly. Contribute I to the Fienek ystem,.particularly if the: area of I;;:ftiel research ' an:Lk, ;!. t? 4'!1.;;;.development Is inCludedir, I,.? West Germany intends to continue development ?? ? , ?; of Its oivni? fast. breeder reactor rather than , to rely.completely on the: French design.' ;It is , not:, knownwhether the partiCipitiOn, of i West Germany In ; the'11 Super ' Phenix project 1 has altered l: by this? .  ,? 1!1 ? 1.agreement; the agreement cannot; be implemented.1 Until; an eitiniated to '12 months of negotiations- ? ? .? ? ?:, tr t4 ,Ir!H ; ? 1between incliistrirs ;11n each: country , have been.COMPleted." ;4.1 0t, ?I .t11 1 1 ; '1' , !:?:1? " i; t ?, ? ? ?The French have not ordered ** fast breeder powerstationi beyond' the SuPei? Phenix plant: but plans' formentioned: Atbegin! in :1978..several' 1,200-MWe plants have been. least' two 1; 200-MWei fast breeder po, , . , - . i. ,, . , ,.. 1  ,.-phinnedlbY EDFi. conitructionA4 tO  . and/col! 19797s;? . ... .  _  , inc ,t. Tenet' mention plans ;t :...' ? for another: everyll 2: year after f that, nil perhaps two, ? plants each' 3 years.' The,FrenCli ii;robably1will build?;.`-. :T, several '2,400-MWe Ptiv;!ei staOcini; having dual,1,200- ?MWe eactors,! before; progressing to ;greater ; reactor .capacities.' l'I--- I'', t"1: ! t,--.. 1 1- I,' '4,, t. ' ' 1, ;j?? :t.,: ; ' 11 ?,1 ;', ,.. ';,.I,'::, 11,....I', II.' i'1:: r 1 .4tot ? 1, .' ' ?', ,,  1 ' t '  *000': , H.e,?;. t: ?? 11 . 1 t t -I 1-4 ? :?? - ;t ;? ? ? ?? Al.The rrencn' ;:were planning to adapt the, uenemi 'Atomic design td, .1 II Meet European ,'requirenients;781 the, Use Of hig,_ '1' 'I .11 . ? ,?1, ne point at which fast weeper reactors become competitiv,c' ;i with pressurized-waterl 4 reactors,: and !thui aPperir commerciallyfeasible to ; Potential customers, q has been I estimated !3')01',TechniastOmi'to be the point at which fast' breeder operating costi)..:;decrease to half the operating costs for pressurized-water reactors.' 0:01 0 r? 1,,?11:; ? . ,? ;i ' 1: ; .;,?? 1 i; 1, I. ':I :1 ? : I; .1 .! 1- ? " '?!! !,4, .1iENTIAL; I - ' : ; :. ! ?1 ! ?- temperature reactors :for .producing process heat forindustrial applications, inch as' edal gasification was ':consideredk: to , be further of01::The : CF.A's high- .teMPerature reactor research WakprizinirilY devoted tostudying, the :Generat:AtomiC .tyPe; of earbOn :matrix '4 fuel blOcks.";? n!-!.! '{ _.- Ti? .1?IP-1014' t. -.4  i -- j,Yi. i,: i;w i ,, 1 iil!ki:;! Li .ii: Since Then General Atomic Withdrew' from the high-temperature reactor field, and .France ,aireed, to workwith! West ..' GerminY. ?'. The: ilnature !_ Of , ?French. 1.. -  , . ...,-4,1,., 1.. 1Cooperation with West : Germany:, probably ! will be .defined only after West GernianYdeterininei how best .. ! a, ! o. .. ., .1 ??  ......! 1 :to proceed With its own, program.N.est ,tiermany alsois; adjusting Its 'projects and ;goals ' beeinie. of theGeneral *Atomic decision made at . the end Of 1975.78 .France'. and !West : Germanyl lalmost liertainly willpursue development !,.of,; the West: Gertrian. ;ipebble''7fueled high-tentiPeraturel reaeto4!,,.bntl ,the relativeefforts in direct: heliumi cycles! VS!'.1:.COnVentionel steam! Cycles and process' heat applications vil.electric powerproduction have not been ,deeided, It is possible thatFrance Will be concentrating `96 Industrial process heat: ! I ? - :'!? ' 1i'*1 Ii I 14 I'!?11:''!;- 11.applications more than in the past; :Another long-range ni clear research; nd develop-Ment project that , his no firm place In the:Frenchener lans is that of controlled fusion?? .1,4As; in, fusion ! reselick; 'everywhere; 1, the i Frenchexperiments seek I to ', provide information :,On the. , behavi6r : of plasmas ,l,Which ;:will !!!?illow;t eventual,production :of .4 plasmal sufficiently hot i'and longlasting to sustain a fusion reaction 1The i TFR, a: ! Tokamak machine it, LEA's ! FOntenay-4nx-Roses;? research' 'center, has most recentlY'nnde'rgOne; experi-, mentsin plasmai heating involving I neutral ; beam..' injection of an unprecedented !' Power.'" A !Second? Tokamak Machine, theiPETULkhis been operating1 II! -4! I ;1;1! ? , Yil!.I.- ': '1:: : !II , !: . *A 30044We demonstration plant of Ibis tYpe is sehailed to be! since February 1975 at the CEAs Grenoble reseatell,! center.. This machine, was designed for ! experiments! inVolving radiofieguency_. heating of plasma." ?,,I1,]!j,,-; - !!? . .! ... :1.!; ..1 ; France will take part in a Joint European Tokamaki (JET) project, probably to be located at; the. Euratorni research.center in hp's; Italy. A decision on .the site! expected In 1970, ! and the, machine is to beconie *?,?. operational in 1980 Or 1981." It is ? hoped that thel',' -, ! ! ; -  ; .. 'machine Will produce a* plaSina ; that: is: very close1 fusion conditions and that It will provide Much of the-1.4: , . ! !!!!1 infOrmation needed to design a large, :experimentali i;:;: ! 1 -  ? 1, I. . .  ; fusion reactor. In !Mid-1970 the French are expected to j,  ! i decide' On: another Tokamak for the Fontenay-a9! Roses Center, to be*cOmpleted;bY 1979, in support*OE. .i the jET:.8., ; ! '11': ' i 2:*1; ' ! :: t ' ? ' ! " i! ! i..t.; :1! I ! 1:. : ': ': - ii: - : !- ' i'l. 1' ,, - :I! _ ,. .: , ? , -! : Becatise. of the! present 'state . Of the 'art in fusion,reSearch,': . and because'. of lithe' slang* lead* tineanticipated, in Imoving froth' an, experiMentiF: therrnonuclear reactor to a commercial model, fusic.M.does not Play a significant role in France's foreseeable':: energy! program. ; : ,' ,t ,-. ,! ', : ,-; I! ? :: I .!....' II, .h! ,I,: , ti,, ... : .?H!HI:'-1! . ?!, ? , , : :: i: -: : ! ! . : . : : !, .? i? : ' : ?: ! THE FRENCH NUCLEAR 'FUEL CYCLE'I':! ? :: H I! J .! :*-!-,: r,! I: l... ..;. .:' I' -:'?1 .: .:, -. -.'France . has . a very! highly !, developed i 'nuclear file  :Cycle with respect ,oi most other countries that have ,. nuclear programs This . reiulted from' the early; ni , . ? ; . , i. ; ! .1. , , .., ; . . .i of the, French nuclear, weapons program ? but is now:.i-,,Valued* is Well for,i,its'!cOntribOtion to , French energy ii;indeperidence.1;',Iii ; Order ! tO,'I assure ,,the;. greateitl,'"',!,.I i4asdnable !!degrie IrlOf. ?!,' indePedence,*1!,as!!. the Frenek'''.;.':',i!!nuellear poWer CaPticitY.iapidlY grows, the CEA and,!French, industry plan t!o expand all areas Of the nuclear:::41e1 cycle.' The Magnitude Of, this task' makes total!,..I';independence 1 in!i,?! the ; ,F,renChl! nuclear '. programtiMpossiblei; France !: has '; sought the participation :*r.)fi 4,Many: Other, countries In 4 'wale 1 of ; projects ? !!, 1 '!!!..::'!: -!! ?!.I.! !,!?:1,1- i .:: ' ! :, ! 1.?,.. ! All activities in!the nuclear fuel , cycle either . are: ;,, ,,being expanded or are expected to expand in supportof the 'gtoWing nuclear poWerlprOgrain.'1The' nuclear', ",.... ,fuel cycle!, probably will have;rstifficient 'capacity tO,'i..;Meet the'needs of the French nuclear power stations in; i?o19 : , : - _ ? :-.!: ;; ,i , ,..,.J. ,:, :.. , ,,o. , , ; , ' ! ? ?. . - - ll . . . ? ?' --: : 11 ! . ? .: : :11,.. . . ' ' ? ! ? : , 1 , ., i : .? -1; ? :.. ? ., il,.!-- Uranium reserves in .France amountto about 62,000:tonnes of uranium that is contained in ore that can be.ii? . , . 1 1!'mined *and concentrated at a cost of less than $15 perl, ;- ';,?This *aniOunt . includes 37,000 tonnes of:1'''' ; ,  '? I: ::., I: . . , , .*ili .4.? :!i ii. ,,,.? i., , . .? ?! ! ! ; : I. ,' ,111 I., ? ,i :I' ,1I .  .  completed In 1978" but probablywill not,be operating until 1979. pound..??? .111. !: .? ;!*::111H41:?It!. !? ; 11: ?: ? 1.1-121N6:112kijitl1 ,!year. !Because the facility is only operating at 2,000 to !;,pocii tonnes per year, expanded capacity will not bitlrequited until the next decade., COMURHEX plansto double present; CapacitY fOr. the ,early 1980s;71:uranium enrichment will require such a ProductioncapaCity bY,198.?11i,  1FrIlince has a limited caPacity to enrich uranium for;light?lwater reactor fuel at the Pierrelatte gaseous'diffulsion plant. ',Franee is,I:thus almostdependent, at present on the United States (and to a:,lesseij extent on the USSR) for uranium enrichment:services. When the switch was made from natural;Uranium power reactors to light-water power reactors,'hOWever,, the French were also developing theirgaseous diffusion technology for eventual application: :in 41 commercial!;Ilow-enrichnient plant.' In , 1973:France and several other Countries studied thefeasibility of building a large gaseous diffusion plani.in Europe. The consortium called EurOdif that finally!tztolopted the project is composed Of France (about 45percent),!, Italy (25 percent), Belgium,,! Spain, andIran I1 I ,;?.1 , ?,: 1 . : ; , .,;A: 1 l' ';? ' 1.. ,, ' , ; :, 11,:l t!: i';':: t? .;! :::; ,; ': ,,. . ?,- reasonably :assured resOurces! and, 25,000,:tonnes cf:;estimated additional resources. About 95,600 tonnes of ,uranium are available at twice that 'cost, 'according toinformation of late 1975. This includes 18,000 tonnes;,; ? . ! at a? 'cost :between; 815.! and i $30 :per pound in the ?;! reasonahly;issured'eategOiY, and anAdditional 15,000,, . tonaes Of estimated reier4es in the 815-$50 range.: In. , , . ?? .! addition,. France Controls' an estimated 60,000 tonnes.1 and 25,000 tonnes in' deposits: in :Niger and Gabon,,irespectively.. These; figures; pertain to Mierves. that are:exploitable at a cost of leis than .$15 per pound; the!extent of ;reserves correspoInding to.a cost range up to;  . , , t$30 peri pound. ;1.; amounts to approximately an: -' additional 20,000 tonnes for Niger and 5,000 tonnes: for Gabon. The French :are aggressivelYsearChing for' further depn.sits all: over the world, often collaboratingwith : seferal other countries, ;in ?order'. to :maintain4heir!coinfortable :position! with' reipeCt to !uranium, j4esertres.P5' ! ;' 11 '1 ;?.,1 ,I !?;,M;i,l'; " 1, ; , :1 i,, : ;  . , ri, ; . ,,,,;.:,,, LI ! :1 , ,. : , ; : ? , ., : ? " . , ?;As in years past, production Of uranium in 1975 wasmore than sufficient to meet domestic needs. Facilitiesin France prodUcert il ainOunt 1 of I 'ilianitim.. 0, I  . :concentrates equivalent; 'to ! 1,700 1 of .':elemental1 ; , I ;; ; . ; ;' ,uraninni;' those Outside., ? prodUced 2,000, t tonnes :of'? uraniurn ,equivalent., This allied sUiPlits tales, of2,000, i tonnes over ithe ; EDF prOgitirn Irequirements'!France plans to inerease output !sufficiently tO remain? . an , exporter, althOugh !FranCe'S; ,.OWn pfrogram Will.' consume,' an Increasing ' ihare ':pf. .`production. The. ,FrenCh ':estirnate '! of '1985 attainable IlinidUctioncapacity, Is 3,000-3,500.'' tonnesI within! France and7,2001 ton nes ,in-1Niger' and Gibon.4 ' 'The! Frenchnuclear [power , program " requirements may ;:: reach.: ?,between' 9,000 and'10,000itonneX1Per Ye: by11985. In. 'order? ;t4 rerimin, si' !significant! exporter of Uranium,France will have to; exploii, new, discoveries inpanada;and Other *countries Where the trench are presentlyt , . , i ,? t ;.,. ' exploring:.  for uranium. ,One sotirce reports that the, . . . : 1 '; . French hope to produce : 1.4,000 tonnes by ,1985.4 ''1 ' 1 1 ' :'' '' ' i' ' ' ' , i '!!:;,?;!-' 't; 1; l'111-1' ' ';Uranium concentrate is converted by ! COMUR- !'HEX! either to a metal for use In gas-cooled graphite-moderated reactor fuel or to uranium heiiiifluMide forfeed , :material , at: enrichment.i. plants.;! Thei! latter!operation, will become PredoMinant as the dernands of'pressurized-water reactors IgroW., Present 'Oapilcity for? ., ;Uranium hexaflunride produCtion : is, 6,000 tonnes Per.'  " ' . ' ; ' ' ; :1 k.'; :'t 11. 'COMURHEX is 't owned ; '51 .ercent by PechinerUgine-.  t;.. ? , Kuhlmann and 30 percent by .Ci.A."1: '1!!!'j '!t 1!t ! 1li ,, .:, , , ?, . 1 1 H ? ii i . 1.. , 1,, , 1 ;. ,t ' I t ' ''11Hjil : ! ,' ! 1 : 11 - ?  "'' . ' ' .:11 : ! '' IL. 1 I'F. i t 41.: ..? ? ,II;, i -0 ?i? '.11 ILIC ,? . i 1 ' ' '' 1 II!' i I 1H,:llit , ? ,, ? ,,; I: ? : ! 1 , l' !, tl ? ,, l', I L,  t ,! i : -:. !i J .? ..:,i I ill' .,,!1 d . '2; 1 , ?ii ' ? I..t!' I The French plan' does not seem geared to gaininrapid independence in enrichment, so Much is to0 1capturing as large a portion of the enrichment marketitas possible by making use Of their: highly develo  H 11; : :i ::1!? 1:! I ' ' i' .!'Separative work unit is a convenient measure by whichcompare , enrichment; !plant capacities or ' the magnitude Cflitj'ienrichment tasks, without specifying the quantities and assays of i?kuranium involved. About 0.2 million SYFU are used In enriching theuranium' needed by i 1.000 MWe reactor for the first year air!oPerat on: Half that amount is required to each 'subsequent Year of!,,: :1 it I , ,I ,,operat on: ! .; ?121' H;:11;eI1:I"?i.;, tI.? 1: ? ?.??? ??1.? 1 ??' ? : ? 1 ?.??:'' ? " ' ?n ? ? ? : . : ? 'In'CONgaseous diffusion technology After coMpletion of theEurodif plant pow under construetiOn, a secondgaseous diffusion plant Tprobably will be built. It isexpected that this ...Plant will be &lilt* in steps, asdictated by the demand for enrichment;capacity, andorerated in conjunction with ; the original plant:Future plants built ,bY France and itS partnersprobably will have to compete with centrifuge plantsnow being planned in several countries. Before theprobable establishment of these More eionomicalplants by 1990, France and its ;Partners can beexpected to build as much gaseous 'diffusionenrichment capacity asIthe market will alio*, possiblyamounting to between 30 million and 40 millionSWU/y.  ; ; 1. ; ? .:; ;'1 ? ' ? ' IPressurized-water reactor fuel can be manufacturedby CERCA, (equally owriecl :by Peehiney-Ugine-Kuhlmann and, Cretrot-Loire)' and by FBFC? (Westinghouse, 16 percent; Metallurgie et MecaniqueNuclearies;;? 24 percent, ' and:EUrofuel,*, 60 peteent)."This situation is expected to Change in the; near future,with one company eniergig :to supply pressurized-water reactor fuel for the French nuclear, powerprogram. '3 Quite, likely the 'CEA will have a greaterparticipation as well. ;1The ?:facilities' of CERCA(presently specializing in natural uranium metal fuel)arKV of FBFC probably Will be operated by a  subsidiary of Eurofue1.1   -;;NTIAL?:t ' ? .I 'I ? ?.1 ?? .Fuel reprocessing in France is performed only by theCEA. A 9-year-old reprocessing plant at Ca de 11..it'Hai ue desi ned for treatin s nt metallicAlthough this 2,400 tonnes/y of capacity would be,. ,twice as great as,tnat needed for France alone in the!;,';Mid-1980s, France will be repiocessing a large amount'offore rgn fuel as well.* ,:These:' French reprocessingPlants will be operated in CoOperation with WestGermany and th United, kingdom through thecompany. United I ReprocessOrs, probably :atI.1,? ,1 i; ; ?The increased capacity of the Cap de La Hague *:reprocessing facility almost Certainly; will come froiriplants built by Saint-Gobain' Techniques Nouvelle1,11,that employ the commonly used PurexAnother process Is also being used 1 by the French'''however, in a pilot facility at the CEA Fontenay-aux? Rases center. Th6 facility has reprocessed severitlkilograms  of irradiated fuel by the fluoride volatility  through the inid-1980s. 'I H ;Proem!'I ' I ' ?; ? ; ? ? - - ? ; ?, , 4*japan is arranging to have 2000 tonnes of fuel reprocessed is"1 ' ' I ' ' 11 ?' I ? ' 1 1 1 ' 1 ' i  : France starting in 1979," and probably at least half of West: , 1 ; I 4 ,' ?Eurrifuel is composed ':, of PechineY-itgine-Kuhlmann (SI : GerMany i Spent fueilwill be shipped to France for reprocessing,percent), ? Westinghouse (35 percent),,Framatorne (11 Percent), and : before the comPletiotli of the firstlf!commacial West GermanI:ICreusot-ILoire (3 percent)."? ? ? ? ;r, ?? !I': I.?'?? ? *; ;;; ?1,?,; ; i reprocessing plant in the mid-1980s."1 ;?, ? ?131 I !? I ?: . ;: CONMEKIALI ,IPlans are reported for adding a uraniumhexafluoride production facility and a plutoniumdioxide .production facility at Cap de La Hague,together with a waste management facilit7 in order toestablish -a complete fuel recycle 'center at the siteThe manner in which plutonium from this center willbe used has not been discussed by the French. Franceappears in favor of recycling plutonium in theirpressurized-water reactors, and a quantity ofplutonium ' has already been placed , in the onlypressurized-water reactor currently Operating inFrance?the 300-MWe Chooz reactor?for ex-perimental studies." It is likely that the fast breederreactor I program will have the greater priority,however, and that only surplus plutonium will berecycled in pressurized-water ' reactors. Plutoniumrecycle is therefore not expected to make a significantimpact by 1985 unless the , fast breeder reactorconstructirm plans are curtailed. I!Waste management currently is the responsibility ofthe CEA,, though private companies May becomemore involved when the technology progresses fromthe pilot stage. A pilot plant for the incorporation ofhigh-level waste in glass has been 'operatedintermittently for about 5 years at Marcoule. Itreportedly has Produced more than 10 tonnes ofradioactive glass corresponding to 700 tonnes ofirradiated fuel." Construction of an industrial scalefacility, capable of producing 20 kilograms ofradioactive glass per hour, reportedly has begun atMarcoule. This waste treatment plant, b scheduled foroperation in 1977, and a similar plant reportedly willfollow at Cap de La Hague.!IMedium-level waste is to be , incorporated inbitumin, and low-level solid wastes are contained indrums and buried. Low-level liquids have beenreleased to the environment."11,'1, 1Unlike the fuel cycle for light-water reactors (whichIn the past has not been a cycle at all because spentfuel has been simply stored rather than reprocessed)both fuel fabrication and reprocessing operations:greatly, influence the economics of a fast breeder'system. The CEA operates a small mbred (orraniturr7and ' plutonium) oxide fuel fabrication plant atCadarache which has produced two core loads for the:',Phenix reactor. A second facility at Cadarache hasbeen designed and will be added 2 years after Super.Phenix has begun Construction. It will take 21/2 toyears to produce the 37 tonnes of fuel required to makeup the first Super Phenix core," probably usingrelatively dean plutonium (less than 15 percent P-240) recovered from spent natural uranium reactorfuel." The French put the future total capacity of theCadarache facilities at about 20 tonnes of fast breederreactor fuel per year." The production of the Phenii=type fuel at Cadarache reportedly has the potential foradditional capacity; however, which could be realizedif France were to; sell a 450-MWe Phenix powerstation." A larger 'plant capable of providing fuel forseveral 1,200-MWe fast breeder reactors reportedlywill be built at the iCap de La Hague center and willuse the '"dirtier'' plutonium produced at the center.931,;i1 ,Fast reactor fuel, from the Rapsodie experimentalreactor and Phenix, has been reprocessed at Cap de 1.1aHague" and Marcoule." There is a small pilot line atCap de La Hague which has reproCessed Rapsodie fuel ,for iseveral yeari." The French plan to have anunspecified amount of reprocessing capacity at thecenter to handle, the high bum-up Mixed oxide fuelfrom Super Phenix' in the early 1980s. This capacity:may be available by diluting the very active mixedoxide fuel and processing it in One of the two 800;tonne/y plants scheduled to be operating by that time" ?1,1 , 11VIn all. the French nuclear fuel cycle appears to beexpanding as requiied to support the Country's nuclearpower plans. The; weakest area of the fuel cycle mabe that of waste management, if only because it has, lacked a , high 'priority.; The reprocessing and' refabrication of fad breeder reactor fuel may revnew; problems as well, since little experienceavailable. ' ' I 1