Translation of "Durée d'autorotation d'un réacteur " (French → English) :

Research to underpin the continued safe operation of all relevant types of existing reactor systems (including fuel cycle facilities), taking into account new challenges such as life-time extension and development of new advanced safety assessment methodologies (both the technical and human element) including as regards severe accidents, and to assess the potential, the safety and waste-management aspects of future reactor systems, in the short and medium term, thereby maintaining the high safety standards already achieved within the ...[+++]EU and considerably improving the long-term management of radioactive waste.

The key issues are operational reactor safety and management of long-lived waste, both of which are being addressed through continued work at the technical level, though allied political and societal inputs are also required.

It continues to build new reactors and has a policy of prolonging of the life-span of its reactors.

To put the cost in perspective, the next step in its development is the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), a joint project of Japan, the European Union, Russia and the United States, which is expected to cost $10B to construct and another $10B to operate over its lifetime; and this is only an experimental reactor.

The RTD activities will relate to the following six topics: - "Exploring new concepts" in order to address the three main issues of concern: reactor safety, the management and disposal of long-lived radionuclides, and the risk of diversion of fissile materials; - "Reactor safety" the aim being to acquire a better understanding of the mechanisms of severe accidents, in order to improve safety measures and prevention; - "Closing the nuclear fuel cycle" the objective of which is to address issues relating to the disposal of long-lived radioactive waste (safety aspects of geological disposal, retrieval of waste, and the safeguarding of spe ...[+++]nt fuel, etc.); - "Radiological impact on man and the environment" in order to improve our understanding of the mechanisms of radiation action (in-utero effects, impact on DNA, etc.) in order to eliminate or at least reduce induced effects on health and establish safety standards for the protection of the public, especially in sectors such as industry, medicine and energy production; - "Historical liabilities" given that the situation in Central and Eastern Europe and in the CIS remains a source of concern where nuclear safety is concerned.

2. - Thermal power stations and other combustion installations with a heat output of 300 megawatts or more, and - nuclear power stations and other nuclear reactors including the dismantling or decommissioning of such power stations or reactors [1] (except research installations for the production and conversion of fissionable and fertile materials, whose maximum power does not exceed 1 kilowatt continuous thermal load).