Preparing for large scale multi-modal spent fuel logistics in USA and China

The nuclear industry needs an extremely safe, reliable and efficient logistics system to support its routine activities. AREVA TN has been a key player in the nuclear industry for over 40 years, supporting the industry by supplying packages and organizing transportation of radioactive material worldwide. Focusing on the back-end industry, around the recycling activities, AREVA TN routinely manages transportation of highly radioactive materials such as spent nuclear fuels, and vitrified residues and sensitive nuclear material such as MOX fuel. Such sensitive nuclear materials are transported in packages and with transport equipment featuring very high technologies. The transportation of these sensitive nuclear materials also requires large organizations, long-term planning and management of multiple interfaces for safety and security. This paper will give some examples of AREVA TN’s experience in international transport for the back-end industry, emphasizing the need for planning with key milestones to successfully organize such transports. The paper will also consider the timelines of future back-end projects in the USA , and China which will feature large scale logistical organizations and for which planning has already started.