LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON MALVESI REFINEMENT AND CONVERSION --Concentrates, in metal or in uranium tetrafluoride (UF4). The factory was created to produce uranium metal. Like Le Bouchet, it purified concentrates and converted them into UF4 by the wet method. It reduced UF4 to metal by calciothermy or, after 1967, my magnesiothermy. Beginning in 1964, part of the UF4 produced was sent to Pierrelatte in specialized trucks to be converted to uranium hexafluoride (UF6) to feed enrichment plants. The production of metal decreased little by little starting in 1970, to end in 1991 [Drire 87; Indé 2.ix.90]. --The installation has storage yards for concentrates. In 1990, the capacity of the storage park was 25,000 t of uranium, which could be raised to 40,000 t [Comurhex (1990?)]. In 1993, 22,000 t of uranium were stored there [CLES 25.v.93]. --Uranium from reprocessing in the form of uranyl nitrate. From 1960 to 1983 Malvési converted into uranium metal and uranium dioxide, depleted uranium in the form of uranyl nitrate from Marcoule. Of the 17,500 t converted, it was necessary to refine 6,500 t [CLES 25.v.93], in all probability the uranyl nitrate from “civilian” fuel. --UF4, into metal. Beginning in 1969 the factory converted depleted UF4 into metal. The depleted UF4 came in particular from a Comurhex factory at Pierrelatte, which reduced depleted UF6 to UF4, as well as from other installations. We do not know whether the plant continues to carry out this conversion. |