Massimo Salvatores: interest to fast reactors in France revives

Massimo Salvatores, scientific advisor of CEA Nuclear Energy director (France), scientific advisor of two U.S.laboratories.

Please say some words about current status of French fast reactor program.

As you know, there is a strong revive of interest to the fast reactors in France. Also there was an announcement by President Jacques Chirac last year on the willingness of France to build a new prototype fast reactor around 2020. This answers the requirements for better and improved management of nuclear wastes.

So, it is strongly related to the work which has been very actively done in France during last twenty years for finding the options for better management of wastes.

OK, now please explain the French experience in the fuel development for fast reactors. I believe you have big experience in the MOX fuel.

Yes, there is the long experience of successful using of the MOX fuel both in thermal reactors and in the fast reactors. It has been a big achievement for the MOX fuel in the last twenty-thirty years.

Of course, for future fast reactors it will be more challenges because somehow or other we are thinking on the introducing of all the transuranic elements including the minor actinides. Let point that the future fuel is more challenging. It implies the separation techniques for the reprocessing of fuel will be advanced. Also the fabrication of the future fuel will be something very challenging.

These questions are discussed on the international level. One typical example of the international cooperation is the Generation-IV international forum where these issues are widely discussed.

Do you still keep any option to recycle the MOX-fuel in the light water reactor?

I think the recycling of the MOX-fuel in the light water reactors is something being done successfully. Certainly it will not be expanded if one wants to introduce the fast reactors in order to keep the resources available for introduction of fast reactors.

Thank you for interview for AtomInfo.Ru.

SOURCE: AtomInfo.Ru

DATE: October 12, 2007

Topics: Fast breeders, MOX-fuel, Europe, France