CELEX: 51974PC0513
Language: en
Date: 1974-04-17
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION adopting a programme of research and education for the European Atomic Energy Community on plutonium recycling in light-water reactors (indirect nuclear project) (Presented by the Commission to the Council)

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DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (74) 513
Vol. 1974/0088
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 ---pagebreak---                                                            COM(74) 513 final
COMMISSION           OP   THE      EUROPEAN          COMMUNITIES
                                              Brussels . 17 April 1974
                               Proposal for a
                   .        • COUNCIL DECISION
         adopting a programme of research and education for the
         European Atomic Energy Community on plutonium recycling
                          in light-water reactors
                        (indirect nuclear project )
               ( Presented by the Commission to the Council )
  C0.I(7^) 513 final
 ---pagebreak---                                                             COM(74 ) 513 final
                                                            III/ 151 /74-E
      CX-ilSSION
        OF THE
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                           PROPOSAL FOR A PROGRAMME
                OP PLUTONIUM RECYCLING IN LIGHT WATER REACTORS
                                     1975-78
INTRODUCTION
As a result of the increasing generation of nuclear power over the coming
years , ever larger quantities of plutonium will be finding their way on to
the fissile materials market «
The most profitable way of using this fissile substance will be as a fast
reactor fuel v   On a world scale , however , the lack of sufficient installed
fast reactor capacity during the next 10--20 years will lead electricity
producers to recycle this material in light-water reactors .
The advent of such a use of plutonium on an industrial scale offers several
advantages :
1.   It supplies an element of flexibility in the fuelling of light--water
     reactors , while at the same time enabling fissile resources to be used
    to greater advantage over the short term .
2.   It is a mode of stockpiling .
3.   It facilitates the introduction of an all- -plutonium fast reactor fuel
     cycle into the industrial world .
Several R&D programmes are currently under way in Various Member States ,
although the scale of these programmes and their progress to date vary
enormously from one country to another .
 ---pagebreak---                                                            COM ( 74 ) ^13 final
                                                           111/151 /74 - E
Primarily , the proposed Community programme is intended to be complementary
in character .
It is divided into two parts :    ,
( a) general programme designed to solve general problems associated with the
     use of plutonium ;
(b ) basic programme designed primarily to fill in the gaps in existing
     scientific and technical knowledge .
Although the proposed funds are modest , the Commission hopes that they will
facilitate pooling of the experience acquired in this field .
The proposed duration of the programme is four years .
                                        *
                                    *        *
1.   General programme
     The aim of this programme is to study general problems associated with
     the use of plutonium .
     1 .1 Plutonium market research
          - medium and long-term plutonium production estimates , taking into
            account irradiated fuel production and reprocessing ;
          - estimate of priority plutonium requirements for fast reactors ;
          - forward study of the expected utilization of surplus plutonium ,
            taking into account the various factors influencing its use , e.g. ,
            extra cost of plutonium fuel , supply of uranium-235 > etc .
                                                                              ./•
 ---pagebreak---                              - 3 -                 COM ( 74 ) 513 « nal
                                                   III/151 /74-E
^ Environmental problems
  The environmental problems posed, by the plutonium fuel-cycle
  industries are of a far more serious nature than those raised "by
  the uranium fuel-cycle industry ;  nevertheless there will have to
  be general acceptance by society of the plutonium fuel industry in
  the economic and industrial context before fast breeders are put
  on the market . As plutonium recycling in light-water reactors
  represents a transitional solution between the nuclear industry based
  on uranium and one based on plutonium , it is important to start
  work now on the environemntal problems which may be presented by
  the industrial scale use of this technology .   Moreover , in this way
  the introduction of fast breeders on an industrial scale will be
  facilitated .
  It would be useful to arrange , in a Community context , a comparison
  of the difficulties encountered in :
  -  obtaining operating licences for fuel fabrication plants and
     plutonium-fuelled power plants , or in the course of their
     operation ;
  - transporting plutonium , in the raw state (nitrate or oxide?) or
     in the form of finished fuel elements ;
  - storing plutonium (including "requalification") ;
  -  attempting to ensure protection against any act of sabotage or
     piracy ;
  and to seek a solution to these problems either through research or
  by means of tests agreed on jointly .
  A programme to harmonize regulations and to inform the public may
  also prove necessary .
                                                                     •/
 ---pagebreak---                                                             COM(74 ) 513 final
                                                            111/ 151/74^
   The general programme is to be financed entirely "by the Community to the
   amount of 800 000 u.a ., i.e. , 200 000 u.a . per year , of which about
   25$ will be spent on studies and 75$ on experiments .
2. Basic programne
   The aim of this programme is to supply industry and the electricity
   producers with the scientific and technical knowledge still needed for
   the rational use of plutonium fuels in light-water reactors .
   2.1  Hitherto unsolved scientific and technical problems likely to arise
        during plutonium recycling
        2.1.1 Higher plutonium isotopes and decay products
               At present certain data ( e.g. , cross-sections ) relating to
              higher plutonium isotopes (Pu^^, Pu^®, Pu.^ and Pu^^) and
               their decay products (Am^\ Am , Am ,                 and Cm^^)
               are insufficient both for calculating core performance
               (including burn-up determination ) and for dimensioning
               production lines ( shielding) or containers .
               Information on these isotopes can also be obtained by
               simulating repeated recycling by using either synthetic rods
               or , preferably , a second generation fuel-element .
               Programme for obtaining improved data by means of
               research contracts with industry , research centres ,
               etc ., on a cost-sharing basis .
              Community financing :                                250 000 u.a .
                                                                           ./.
 ---pagebreak---                                 - 5 -                  C0M(74 ) 513 final
                                                       III/151 /74-E
     2.1.2 Comparison of computer code ? available to el ectri ^* +7
           producers and fuel manufacturers
           Electricity producers will "be called upon to play a very active
           role in determining plutonium reloads .  Several electricity
           producers have their own computer codes and a comparative
           assessment of the latter may be advisable .   Some fuel manu­
           facturers are also interested in collaborating in this
           programme .  A certain amount of readjustment may be necessary
           on the basis of in-pile experiments .
           Comparative assessment and measurement
           programme to be conducted on a cost-
           sharing basis with the electricity
           producers .
           Community contribution :                          50 000 u.a .
2.2 Safety and control
    Certain problems ( e.g. , the loss of coolant accident ) associated
    with safety and control in light-water reaotors differ depending on
    whether they are fuelled on plutonium or uranium .    There is need for
    a comparative technical study to be carried out on the problems
    raised by the presence of a substantial quantity of plutonium in the
    core , with reference to the control and safety system and the health
    protection equipment , in order to see what modifications are
    necessary .   This study should also show to what extent it would be
    possible , at a later date , to return to the use of uranium fuel .
    The studies will be based on specific cases and will not be
    cond\icted in a general context .  They will be carried out in close
    collaboration with the electricity producers . Should the need arise ,
    these studies could profitably be followed up by one or more series
    of measurements on the dynamic behaviour of plutonium-fuelled power
    plants (using either a power plant or a mock-up ).
    Community contribution :                               1 000 000 u.a
 ---pagebreak---                             -6 -                   COM(74) 513 final
                                                         1 '
Post-irradiation examination of plutonium fuels
In view of the anxiety expressed "by the electricity producers and
the fuel-element fabrication industry , and Commission considers it
advisable to assume responsibility for some of the cost of the
post-irradiation examinations of plutonium fuels and possibly
special rods intended to supply information on specific problems of
general interest .
This contribution should assist in speeding up the rate at which the
entire Community industry acquires general industrial information on
high-plutonium fuel elements , thus ensuring that the information is
available in time to deal with, potential problems arising out of the
use of plutonium-core reactors .
Naturally , the defrayment of these costs by the Community will be
conditional on a joint agreement by the fuel supplier and the
electricity producer to ensure that sufficient data are made
available to render the • examinations meaningful , subject to the
provision that the industrial and commercial interests of the
parties concerned are properly safeguarded .   The results of the tests
will be placed at the disposal of Community firms who are covered by
the regulations governing the dissemination of information laid down
in Article 13 of the Euratom Treaty ( communication ).
The laboratories responsible for carrying out these examinations
will be appointed bn the basis of the results of an invitation to
tender sent out to all the Community laboratories .
The work is to be done under research contracts on a basis of cost-
sharing with electricity producers and/or fuel producers .
Allowing for the probable increase in the number of elements to be
examined during the' years covered by the programme , the breakdown
of Community financing could be as follows :
 ---pagebreak---                                    - 7 -                  COM(74) 513 final
                                                          III/151/74-E
     First and second years                  400 000 u.a. per year
     Third and fourth years                  800 000 u.a. per year
     i.e. , for a four-year programme      2 400 000 u.a.
                                      *
                               *           *
     Total Community contribution to the basic programme :
                                           3 700 000 u.a.
3.   Promotion of a concerted Plutonium recycling policy in a
     Community framework
Several electricity producers have embarked on various recycling
programmes in a small number of light-water reactors .
Significant savings could be achieved by a comparison , in the
respective national contexts , of the results obtained under these
programmes .
The Commission will examine the prerequisites for a comparison of
this type ; it will make every effort to smooth out the difficulties
arising out of the very unequal state of knowledge from one country
to another and will endeavour to create the conditions necessary for
a fruitful exchange of information.
Once the results are available , the Commission undertakes to forward
to the Council a supplementary proposal to the present programme with
the aim of promoting a concerted policy on the use of plutonium
within the Community .
This proposal will probably be matched by substantial financial backing
in order to encourage electricity producers to collaborate in such a
programme .                                                            /
 ---pagebreak---                                   - 8 -                 C0M(74 ) 513 fini
                                                        111/151/74-E
4.   Financial aid required
The funds and staff required for this programme are as follows ?
                                                            ν
     Operating budget           :    4 500 000 u.a .
     Staff                      i    (2 A + 1 B )
     Staff expenditure          :       287 000 u.a.
     Administrative expenses    :        12 000 u.a.
     Reserve                    :      678 000 u.a.
     TOTAL funds required            5 5°5 000 u.a.
 ---pagebreak---                                                          COM(74) 513 final
                                                         111/151/74-E
         PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION ADOPTING A PROGRAMK3 OP
          RESEARCH AND EDUCATION FOR ThE EUROPEAN ATOMIC ENERGY
         COMMUNITY ON PLUTONIUM RECYCLING IN LIGHT-WATER REACTORS
                        ( INDIRECT NUCLEAR PROJECT)
The Council of the European Communities ,
Having regard, to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy-
Community , and in particular Article 7 thereof ;
Having regard to the proposal of the Commission presented after
consultation with the Scientific and Technical Committee ;
Having regard, to the Opinion of the European Parliament ( optional );
Whereas , under the common scientific and technological policy , the
multi-annual programme of research and. education is one of the
Community 's essential ways of contributing towards the rapid
development and growth of nuclear industries and towards the
acquisition and dissemination of knowledge in the nuclear sector ;
                      I
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION :
                                  Article 1
A programme of research and education on plutonium recycling in
light-water reactors , as set out in Annexes I and II , shall be adopted
for a period of four years starting on 1 January 1975 *    The Annexes
form an integral part of this Decision.
                                                                     ./
 ---pagebreak---                                    - 2 -                  COM (74 ) 513 firm
                                                          III/151/74-E
                                Article 2
For the implementation of this programme , the maximum amount of the
expenditure commitments shall 'be 5 5^5 000 units of account and the
maximum staff shall be three persons .    The unit of account shall
be as defined in Article 10 of the Financial Regulation of
25 April 1973 applicable to the General Budget of the European
Communities .
                                Article 3
The programme defined in Annex I shall be reviewed at the end of
the second year , according to the appropriate procedures ,
particularly in the light of the decisions reached at the Summit
Conference in Paris .
                                            Done at Brussels
                                            For the Council
                                            The President
 ---pagebreak---                                                               C0M(74 ) 513 final
                                                              111/151/74-E
i
                                      AHBEX I
J
                              INDIRECT MJ CLEAR PROJECT
                     PLUTONIUM RECYCLING IS LIGHT-WATER REACTORS
  A maximum amount of 4 907 000 units of account , plus a reserve of
  678 000 units of account , shall "be assigned to this programme , for
  which the staff shall comprise three persons .
  Hie purpose of the programme shall "be the joint acquisition of the
  data still needed to ensure the judicious use of plutonium prior to
  the operation of fast reactor power stations on an industrial scale .
  The programme shall comprise two parts :
    (a)    the object of the firEt part will be to solve the general
           problems surrounding the use of plutonivjn ;
    (b )   the object of the second part will be to acquire the
           scientific and technical data still needed on plutonium
           recycling in light-water reactors .
   The programme will be implemented under contract .
                                      AMEEX II
                       TABLE OF MAXIMUM EXPENDITURE AND STAFF
  «                                                                          1
  !
  1
             Programme
                 »->
                                   {  Commitments          j          Staff j
     .....
                                                                    _        !
  »                                                                          i
  j Plutonium recycling in         I 5 585 000 u.a.        !            3
                                                                             i
                                                                             j
                                                                             (
                                   t                       !
  | light-water reactors           f
                                   i
  \