CELEX: 51978PC0214
Language: en
Date: 1978-05-26
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION modifying the Council Decision 74/642 adopting a research and training programme for the European Atomic Energy Community on plutonium recycling in light-water reactors (submitted to the Council by the Commission)

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DE LA COMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEE DES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (78) 214
Vol. 1978/0072
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concerning the opening to the public of the historical archives of the European Economic
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 ---pagebreak---        COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                                                                COM(78)214 final.
                                                                                Brussels . 26 May 1978
                                  Proposal for a
                                 COUNCIL DECISION
           modifying "the Council Decision 74/642 adopting a research and
           training programme for the European Atomic Energy Community on
                  plutonium recycling in light-water reactors
                      ( submitted to the Council by the Commission)
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COM(78) 214 final.
 ---pagebreak---                                        COMMUNICATION PROM THE COMMISSION
                                                       TO THE COUNCIL
                            Proposal to extend, by one year the research and development
                            programme on plutonium recycling in light-water reactors -
                                     indirect -act ion programme under the EURATOM Treaty
                    On 17 December 1974 » a research and development programme on plutonium
                    recycling in light-water reactors was adopted by the Council .
                   This programme , which was                        for a duration of four years , expires on
                    31 December 1978 ( OJ N° L 349/61 of 28 December 1974 )*
                   The Commission has , with favourable opinion of the Advisory Committee on Pro­
                   gramme Management , undertaken through contracts the projects deemed
                   meriting a Community contribution with a view to :
                   - solving some general problems associated with the use of plutonium ;
                       against this background , the Commission will in 1979 "be in possession
                       of all the information needed for assessing the effects of pluto­
                       nium in light-water reactors on the environment ;
                   - to bridge some gaps in the available scientific and technical in­
                       formation on plutonium recycling in light-water reactors ; againt
                       this background , the Commission participates in various studies
                       and research projects with a view to advancing :
                       a ) basic neutron physics knowledge of the higher isotopes of plu­
                            tonium and the transplutonium elements ;
                       b ) knowledge of the static and dynamic behaviour of light-water
                            reactors loaded with plutonium fuels ;
                       o ) technological knowledge of plutonium fuels ( participation in
                            fuel post-irradiation examination campaigns ).
Provisionai address : Rue de la Loi 200, B - 1049 Brussels – Telephone 735 00 40 / 73580 40 – Telearaphic addrets : COMSUR Scusse!?' –
                                                         Telex : " 21 877 COMEU B "
 ---pagebreak--- The programme is progressing satisfactorily . It has given rise to
fruitful comparative and collaborative work , including during the
precise specification of the projects to "be performed . It has carried
out a minimum cost by frequently using the Community system of dis­
cretionary    tendering on the . basis of detailed t-echnical specifi­
cations .
An analysis of the progress of the programme carried out under con­
tracts is set out in the Annex .
By June 1977 » the ACFM ■and the Commission had not found any valid
reasons for a programme revision ; the Commission notified the 'Coun­
cil accordingly on 19 September 1977 in Doc . R/2091/77 ( ATO 96 ).
Although the initial results from this work are beginning to become
available and are the subject of communications ( Article 13 of the
EURATOM Treaty ) or publication , some activities , especially those
relating to post -irradiation examinations , will not have been com­
pleted by 31 December 1978 and will , in a fair number of cases , pro­
ceed during 1979-
Such a state of affairs is inherent in this kind of research project ,
which requires work over several years , and in the fact that some
post-irradiation examination contracts can only be signed in 1978-,
since they relate to          fuels which the nuclear power station
operators are still irradiating in their reactors .
Incidentally, the majority of the other final results of the pro­
gramme will not be available until the end of 1978 and. it seems
desirable to produce a digest .
It is for this rsason that , on the one hand , the staff of three
needed to carry out this programme should remain seconded to it
during 1979 and that , on the other hand , the Advisory Committee on
Programme Management should continue to operate over the same
period .
 ---pagebreak---                         - 3 -
The Commission therefore shares the Opinions delivered by the Advisory
Committee on Programme Management on 1 6 June 1977 and by the Scien­
tific and Technical Committee on 17 February 1978 that it would be
isound policy to extend the programme in progress by one year and
requests the Council to adopt the Decision set out in Annex 1 *
 ---pagebreak---                                           ANNEX I
              Proposal of a Council Decision
         modifying "the Council Decision 74/642
Adopting a research and training programme for the European
Atomic Energy Community on plutonium recycling in light-water
reactors
          - ( indirect-action nuclear project )
THE COUNCIL OP THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic
Energy Community, and in particular Article ^ thereof ;
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission submitted
after consultation with the Scientific and Technical Committee ;
Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament ;
Having regard to the Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee ;
Whereas the Council has adopted , by decision 74/642 on 17 December
1974 , a research and training programme for the European Atomic
Energy Community on plutonium recycling in light-water reactors
( indirect-action nuclear project );
Whereas , taking into account the present status of the work
involved in the programme , the extension of its duration by
one year would enable the best advantage to be derived from
the efforts thereunder ;
Whereas , since it is suitable to modify the Council decision
mentioned before ,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
 ---pagebreak---                    Article 1
Article 1 of the decision 74/ 642 is modified as follows :
"A programme of research and education on plutonium re­
cycling in light-water reactors , as set out in Annexes I
and II , shall be adopted for a period of five years
starting on 1 January 1975"*
                   Article 2
Article 2 of the decision 74/ 642 is modified as follows :
"For the implementation of this programme , the maximum amount
of the expenditure commitments shall "be 4 750 000 european
units of account and the maximum staff shall "be three per­
sons . The european unit of account shall be as defined in
the financial regulation applicable to the general budget
of the European Communities #
                                    Done at Brussels
                                    For the Council
                                    The president
 ---pagebreak---                                       ANNEX 2
     INFORMATION NOTE ON THE PROGRESS
            OP THE PROGRAMME ON
PLUTONIUM RECYCLING IN LIGHT-WATER REACTORS
 ---pagebreak---                              - 2 -
1. Introduction
   On 17 December 1974 , subject to a budget appropriation of 4.5 MUC ,
   including about 4 MUC to finance the. project under contract , the
   Council approved the programme on plutonium recycling in light-
   water reactors put forward by the Commission .
   This programme is aimed at acquiring the information needed for
   the ootimum use of plutonium in light-water reactors before fast
   reactors come to industrial maturity .
   It comprises two parts :
   a ) the first is concerned with solving the general problems
        attendant upon the use of plutonium j
   b ) the second is concerned with bridging the gaps in scientific
        and technical knowledge of plutonium recycling in light-water
        reactors .
   An Advisory Committee on Programme Management ( ACPM ) was set up ;
   it met three times during each of the years 1975', 1976 and 1977 •
   In addition , the Commission has drawn on the advice of specialists
   for detailing the programme ; hence it was that several groups of
   experts were formed in the following sectors :
   - aspects relating to "the environment of the plutonium industry
      ( transport , fabrication of mixed fuels , radiological effects );
   - neutron calculation codes ( cell and assembly ) adapted to the
      requirements of plutonium recycling ;
   - post -irradiation examinations of mixed fuels , including isotopic
      analyses ;
   - control and safety of plutoniiun-fuelled power station reactors .
 ---pagebreak---                              - 3 -
     The ACPM delivered three Opinions , in 1975 1 1976 and 1977 respec­
     tively; in the light of the last-mentioned ( see Annex A), the
     Commission decided not to revise the technical content of the
     programme and notified the Council accordingly ( COM 77-402 )-( ATO 96 ).
     Cooperation with the ACPM and the various groups of experts has
     ensured a very large measure of consistency in the definition of
     the various projects undertaken .
     By making frequent use of the Community system of discretionary
     tendering on the "basis of detailed technical specifications , the
     Commission has ensured optimum execution of the programme at
     the lowest cost *
     The status of the programme at the end of 197 6 was the subject
     of a publication ( Ref . l ).
     In September 1977 » thirty-three contracts , representing a finan­
     cial commitment of 2.35 million U.a ., were signed , seven contracts ,
     representing a financial commitment of about 1.000,000 u.a . were
     in the course of negotiation ; the last projects to be undertaken
     in 1978 were determined .
2.   General aspects associated with the use of plutonium
     The aims of this part of the programme are , on the one hand , to
   . assess the quantitative use of plutonium up to 1990 with the aid
     of forward studies and , on the other hand , to define better .
     the role    of the plutonium industry against the economic and in­
     dustrial background of the Community . To this end , and in the light
     of the probable situation in the Community in 1990-2000 , the Com­
     mission has arranged for a survey to be made of the effects of
     plutonium recycling in light-water reactors on the environment and
     has initiated some preliminary research projects to reduce these
     effects . A sum of about 1.000.000 u.a . is allocated to this part
     of the programme .
 ---pagebreak---                              - 4 -
2.1 Forward study of the use of plutonium
    This study has been constructed by the Commission with the help
    of , amongst other things , information furnished directly by the
    members of the ACPM concerning the situations in the Various
    Member States .
    The first version , drafted in December 1975 » was the subject of a
    publication ( Ref . 2 ).
    An updating amendment of this study is at the printers' ( Ref . 3 );
    it serves as a general framework for the survey of the effects of
    the plutonium industry on the environment .
2.2 Aspects relating to the plutonium industry environment
    The Commission , assisted by various groups of experts , determined
    the topics to be considered for the purpose of the survey of the
    effects of plutonium recycling on the environment ; these topics
    were then grouped into some twelve subjects for specific studies .
    This concerted work has also enabled a list to be drawn up of
    research and development subjects meriting priority treatment ,
    with the aim of reducing the effects of the use of plutonium on
    the environment .
    The detailed technical specifications of these study or research
    and development subjects were then formulated and included in the
    Community system of discretionary tendering at the end of 197 6 and
    the begiiining of 1977 •
    All the contracts relating to these studies or research and develop­
    ment work were signed before the end of 1977 •
 ---pagebreak---                        - 5 -
- The forward, studies ( industrial outlook at the end of the
  twentieth century) cover the following subjects :
   - effects of plutonium fuel fabrication plants on the environment
     ( normal and accident operating modes );
   - effects of plutonium transport on the environment ( normal and
     accident transport conditions );
   - differential effects on the environment of light-water reactors
     burning plutonium fuel instead of uranium fuel ;
   - differential effects on the environment of reprocessing plants
     reprocessing irradiated mixed-oxide fuels instead of irradiated
     uranium oxide fuels ;
   - overall radiological effects of plutonium reccyling in light-
     water reactors after a summary has been made of the metabolism
     and toxicity of plutonium and the actinides .
- The research and development work will be focused on the improve­
  ment of the condition tinder which plutonium is stored and conveyed#
  The contracts relating to this part of the programme cover a sum
  of about 1.000.000 u.a .
                                   4
An information meeting on all these activities was held by the Com­
mission at the end of October 1977 f under the plutonium recycling .
programme , for the benefit of Commission contractors .
The Commission will be in possession of the results of all these
contracts by the end of 1978 or the beginning of 1979 and plans
to produce a summary of them during 1979 *
 ---pagebreak---                             - 6 -
3.  Improvement of scientific and technical knowledge of plutonium
    recycling in light-water reactors
    The aim of this second part of the programme is the advancement
    fo the scientific and technical knowledge needed for industrial
    plutonium recycling in light-water reactors .
    A sum of about 3.000.000 u.a . is allocated to this purpose .
3.1 Improvement of knowledge of the neutron physics of the higher
    isotopes of plutonium and transplutonium element s
    This part of the programme consists of four projects :
    a ) a "bibliographic study , summarizing the status of information
        in regard to the use of plutonium in light-water reactors . This
        study was carried out by the competent Commission department and
        has been published ( Ref . 4 )»
    b ) a sensitivity study carried out at the beginning of 1976 under
        contract , with the aim of setting in priority order the gaps to
        be bridged in the neutron physics information on the higher
        isotopes of plutonium , americium and curium . This study was
        completed and has been the subject of two communications ( Refs . 5 )
        and 6 ) ;
    c ) the experimental determination of the capture cross-sections
        of the isotopes selected as a result of Study b ); this is in
        progress and the results axe expected at the end fo 1978 °r
        beginning of 1979 *
    d ) various isofcopic analyses of the plutonium fuels listed below
        in section 3»4 will back up the fissile material neutron balance
        calculations .
 ---pagebreak---                           - 7 -
3.2 . Comparison of the neutron calculation codes adapted to
      light-water reactors loaded with plutonium fuels
The enquiry into the usefulness of comparing neutron calculation
codes , initiated by the Commission in March 1975 , revealed the
desirability of such a comparison .
Representatives of the circles interested deputed experts to the
Commission in order to specify a set of standard calculations
( three plutonium cells and one fuel assembly), an exercise to be
carried out on a voluntary and unpaid basis for the purpose of
comparing the results .
The results were examined in depth by the participants during
several technical meetings .
A summary study performed under an expert contract has enabl ed
some conclusions to be reached ( Ref . / 7 /) * while allowing each
participant to see where he stands in relation to the others .
This work will have significant repercuss i ons on the advancement
of the information on the subject , since the participants in this
coordinated project represent the principal quarters concerned
in the Community .
This exercise has now been completed .
3.3 . Control  and safety of light-water reactors burning plutonium
      f ue I s
An enquiry into research and development requirements in this field
was initiated by the Commission in April 1976 with the aid of a
questionnaire devised in cooperation with ACPM at its 1975 and
1976 meetings .
Having examined the proposals submitted , the Commission adopted ,
by agreement with the ACPM at its meeting of 15 October 1976 ,1
some fifteen studies and research projects .
 ---pagebreak---                                    - 8 -
The programme includes an experimental part slanted towards some
neutron physics aspects of plutonium fuel assemblies ( power distri­
bution , reactivity coefficients ) and towards the establishment
of a tritium balance in a pressur i zed-water reactor ,
A second , theoretical part is devoted to a study of the control
and safety of pi uton i um-fue I I ed power stations ,    i.e. , static
and dynamic aspects of the station , fuel handl ing and storage
problems and an analysis of the maximum credible accident *
The contracts covering these studies and research projects were
negotiated and signed during 1977 •
This work will be carried out during the years 1977 and 1978
and ear I y 1979 «
An important summarization task will remain to be carried out ;
at best , it could not be started until the second half of 1978
and continue        into 1979 .
3 ■ 4 ■ Post - i rrad i at i on examinations and isotopic analyses of pi u-
        ton i um  fue I s
The enquiry into the requirements of industry and the electricity
producers as regards post- i rrad i at i on examinations and isotopic
analyses of plutonium fuels , which was set on foot by the Commis­
sion in March 1975# aroused a great deal of interest ; all the
proposals rece i ved far exceed the budget funds available .
The Commission examined these proposal s with the help of experts
and adopted some twelve projects .
Three contracts were concluded at the end of 1975 I they cover
post- i rrad i at i on examinations of a plutonium fuel assembly irra­
diated in the BR-3 reactor ( Ref . /W) # post- i rrad i at i on examina­
tions and isotopic analyses of a plutonium fuel assembly irra-
d i ated in the Dodewaard power station ( Ref . / W7) and post- irra­
diation examinations of fuel pins fabricated by the Vibrasol
technique ( Ref . /l 0/0 .
                                                                   • • ■/ • • «
 ---pagebreak---                            - 9  -
Two further contracts were concluded in 1976 # they cover post-
 irradiation examinations and isotopic analyses of fuel phs irra­
diated in the Garigliano power station ( Refs . /JiT" anc' Z.^^)
and isotopic analyses of the thor i um/ pl uton i um element irra­
diated in the Lingen power station . During the first half of 1977
the contract related to the verification isotopic analysis MIS signed .
Another project covering the post- i rr ad i at i on examination of
fuels irradiated in the Dodewaard power station was postponed
for a year in order to subject the fuel to an additional one-
year irradiation .
In addition , five contracts are being drafted ; they cover . post-
 irradiation examinations of fuels irradiated , or being irradiated ,
 in the Garigliano , BR-3 , SENA and Dodewaard reactors .
The work under these contracts will for the most part be carried
out during 1979 .
A technical information meeting held by the Commission on 15 June
1977 / attendance at which was restricted to Commission contractors
under the programme on plutonium recycling in light-water reactors ,
was the occasion for assessing the work performed . The quality
and interest of the experiments were acknowledged by the forty
or so specialists delegated by their firms or bodies to attend
th i s meet i ng .
The work under this part of the programme , although it will have
been contracted for before the end of 1978 , will be carried out
during 1979 .
The execution of this work will exceed the four-year ( 1975-1978 )
period set for the programme .
Such a development is inherent in this kind of research project
and in the fact that some projects relate to modern fuels still
being irradiated .
Major summarization task has still to be carried out and it could
only begin in 1979 «
                                                              • a •/ * m
 ---pagebreak---                                                  )
                                        10 -
    3.5 . Second-generation recycling
    Several projects covering second-generation recycling , put forward
    by various Community bodies in 1975# were judged in agreement with
    the ACPM , to be premature and may only be adopted as part of a
    I ater programme , mainly because of the financial implications *
4 . Conc I usions
    The programme is progressing very well indeed , fully in line with
    the Opinions del i vered by the ACPM .
    Thanks to the high degree of cooperation reached within the groups
    of experts , a very large measure of cons i stency has been attained
    in the deta i I ed qaec i f i cat i on of the work to be undertaken .
    Furthermore , frequent use of the Community system of d i scret i onary
    tendering for the execution of the work has enabled the Commu­
    nity 's skills to be exploited rationally *
    Nevertheless , the majority of the results of the programme will
    only be available as from the middle of 1978 * Major summarization
    task has still to be carried out ; it is for this reason that
    the team assigned to the programme (2 A + 1 B) will be required
    to continue at work during 1979 if the maximum advantage is to
    be derived from the effort deployed ( see the ACPM Opinion of
    16 June 1977# set out in Annex A ).
    In conclusion , it has appeared to the Commission and the members
    of the ACPM that , in the light of the work undertaken , there are
    still some further research and development requirements to be
    satisfied in the use of plutonium in thermal reactors *
    An examination of these requirements is proceeding and will form
    the subject of discussions by the ACPM at it3 forthcoming meetings *