The International Nuclear Recycling Alliance - led by Areva (CEI.FR) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. (7011.TO) and including Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited, URS Washington Division, The Babcock and Wilcox Company, and Battelle - said Thursday that it has signed an agreement with the Department of Energy extending its Oct. contract.
The contract extension, valued at $5.7 million, will enable INRA to continue its evaluation of a commercial closed nuclear fuel cycle in the United States in ways that reduce proliferation risk, increase energy security and support a sustainable used-fuel management solution.
Both the extension and the original contract were signed within the framework of the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership.
The contract allows further study of a nuclear fuel recycling center and an advanced recycling reactor center that would help close the nuclear fuel cycle by creating a means to manage both used nuclear fuel and final waste, while creating additional energy resources.