Into the Hot Cells of La Hague

As the ITER Hot Cell Facility is taking shape — at least on the drawing board (see related article) — a party from the ITER Organization visited the AREVA plant in La Hague, Normandy, in far north France. There, on this 350 hectares site, spent power reactor fuel is being reprocessed. The plant employs 3200 staff and 5000 subcontractors.

The objective of the visit by IO representatives to La Hague was to see this large industrial nuclear facility, especially its Hot Cells," Magali Benchikhoune, Leader of the ITER Hot Cell Section, summarized. Further discussed were various design issues, means of optimization based on a broad feedback, and — last but not least — issues of maintainability and operability in nuclear zones where remote handling is mandatory.