JSC Production Association Electrochemical Plant (Krasnoyarsk Region, 100%-owned subsidiary of JSC Atomenergoprom) is completing the commissioning and start-up work at the new shop for depleted uranium hexafluoride (DUF6) processing.

The W-ECP installation based on the French technology of commercial DUF6 conversion is being created at the Electrochemical Plant under a contract between JSC Tenex (part of JSC Atomenergoprom), AREVA-NC (former COGEMA) and SGN (France).

The new plant, which is the first in Russia and the third in the world, will allow conversion of depleted uranium hexafluoride into uranium oxide concentrate, a chemical form which is a lot safer for storage. The process involves defluorination of uranium – a conversion of a potentially chemically dangerous substance into a safe one. Uranium oxide concentrate is a substance similar to the natural state of uranium ores. This product is stable, easily conserved and convenient for transportation. Uranium oxide concentrate may be stored for a long time for further usage in nuclear fuel production after the transition of nuclear power generation to fast breeder reactors. Other conversion products will be used by enterprises of both the nuclear power industry and, possibly, other industries.

The design capacity of the plant is 10.000 tons of DUF6 per year.
The contract with AREVA-NC / SGN for equipment supplies, installation and adjustment supervision was signed in March 2005, and the structural works were commenced in December of the same year. The installation of the plant was started in June 2007. Commissioning is planned for the end of Q2, 2009.

JSC Production Association Electrochemical Plant is one of the separating enterprises in the structure of JSC Atomenergoprom. It produces low enriched uranium for nuclear power plant fuel assemblies, stable and radioactive isotopes of various elements, technological pipelines for power and chemical industrial plants, special and all-purpose microprocessor-controlled static frequency converters, electronic power supply meters and a number of other high-technology products.


Department for Public and Mass Media Relations of JSC Atomenergoprom