OREANDA-NEWS. May 26, 2009. Electrochemical Plant PA started complex testing of Russia’s first depleted uranium hexafluoride processing system “W-EKhZ”

“W-EKhZ” complex is based on French technology and is being created in the framework of a contract of Techsnabexport OJSC with AREVA-NC (former COGEMA) and SGN (France).

The complex testing was preceded by the bare testing of equipment supplied by AREVA-NC. The bare testing was completed in Apr and confirmed the readiness of the system for the final tests.

The French manager of the project, the director of the Russian office of SGN (part of AREVA) Marie Paul Brossard says that at first they tested local units then bigger systems (furnaces, uranium oxide concentrate packaging system and acid processing equipment).

The automated control and general failure tests have shown that in case of problems with electricity, air, steam or cooling water supply, the system automatically switches to safe mode.

The complex testing is supposed to be finished by the end of May. At first the testing will be carried out without hydrogen and uranium hexafluoride, then in real operating mode.