- 50 - Nuclear fuel fabrication facilities (Mélox, FBFC) Mélox The Mélox plant is today the only nuclear facility producing MOX fuel, which consists of a mixture of uranium and plutonium oxides. It is located on the Marcoule site. The decree of 20th March 2007 authorised the plant to increase its output to 195 tonnes of heavy metal. The FBFC plant at Romans The FBFC plant at Romans produces uranium oxide powder or fuel assemblies, exclusively destined for light water reactors (PWR or BWR). The operation of this plant is regulated by a creation authorisation decree dating from 1978 and amended in 2006 to allow an increase in production capacity. 3.1.3 Other facilities (ATPu, Masurca) ATPu The plutonium technology facility (ATPu) produced plutonium based fuel elements, first of all for fast or experimental reactors and then, as of the 1990s, for PWRs using MOX fuel. The activities of the Chemical Purification Laboratory (LPC) were associated with those of the ATPu: physical-chemical checks and metallurgical examinations of plutonium-based products, reprocessing of effluents and waste contaminated with alpha emitters. Since 1994, AREVA NC has been the industrial licensee operating the ATPu and the LPC. From a regulatory standpoint, CEA nonetheless remains the nuclear licensee of these facilities. Given that it was impossible to demonstrate the ability of these facilities to withstand the seismic risk, AREVA NC terminated the commercial activities of the ATPu in August 2003. Since then, CEA has been engaged in the final shutdown and decommissioning process. Masurca The Masurca reactor, operated by CEA, for which the creation authorisation decree dates back to 14th December 1966, is designed for neutronic studies, primarily on fast neutron reactor cores, and the development of neutronic measurement techniques. In the facility's current configuration, the core is unloaded (since the last periodic safety review in 2007) and the fissile material is being stored in the storage and handling building (BSM). This configuration should continue for another few years. 1.73.2 Protection of the facilities against off-site flooding 3.2.1 Experimental reactors Generally speaking, the frames of reference of these facilities do not directly cover off-site flooding. Monitoring of this risk, especially by the shift crews, is however carried out. It should be noted that agreements or MoUs are in place with the offices of the préfet, with Météo France or with the dam operators (either directly with the BNI, or via the centre). In the event of heavy rainfall, flooding or a dam burst, the alert would be given by the off-site parties. It should be noted that there is generally no rule for ranking the deployment of the emergency resources common to several facilities, as the safety frames of reference make no provision for multi-facility accidents. Osiris In the light of the frequency and the moderate intensity of the feared events and the results of the complementary safety assessments, the inspectors felt the situation to be satisfactory. However, particular attention needs to be paid to the risk of flooding through the technical galleries.
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