COGEMA and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), through their US companies, COGEMA Inc. and ANSTO Inc., are making public the formation of a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC).
The new LLC intends to bid on one prong of the Department of Energys (DOE's) hybrid approach to excess weapons plutonium dispositionplutonium immobilization. The goal of the immobilization project is to turn excess material into a ceramic form and enclose it in a shield of highly radioactive glass for long-term storage. COGEMA is already involved in the mixed-oxide fuel portion of the DOEs plutonium disposition mission.
The two companies began working together in 1995 to develop synergies with their melter technologies. This past November the companies collaborated to successfully transport spent research reactor fuel from Australia to France in COGEMAs Transnuclear ships.
Mr Rhonnie Smith, CEO of COGEMA-ANSTO, LLC, stated, "Forging a new corporation with ANSTO has been a positive experience. ANSTOs scientific focus blends well with COGEMA. ANSTOs years of experience with synroc ceramic waste forms will prove invaluable to the immobilization project." ANSTO is Australias nuclear research and development organisation.
Professor Helen Garnett, President of ANSTO Inc., said, "COGEMA has years of experience with plutonium facility design and operations and has more experience handling nuclear materials than any company in the world. We respect COGEMAs strong non-proliferation goals and were pleased to see them successfully bid the MOX project.
Our experienced team, led by Dr Adam Jostsons, is looking forward to the prospect of working with COGEMA to get the rest of the job done."
Together, the two companies bring the complete range of plutonium disposition processes and technologies needed to assist the Department of Energy in the disposition of excess weapons plutonium.