Construction begins on MOX
APRIL BAILEY
The Aiken Standard
The following are excerpts from an article in the Aiken Standard.
After several delays, Wednesday marked the first day of construction for the Mixed Oxide (MOX) Fuel Fabrication Facility at the Savannah River Site.
Construction was initiated by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). NNSA is an organization within the Department of Defense responsible for increasing national security through the military application of nuclear science. It was established by Congress in 2000.
A longtime supporter of the project, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said that the MOX facility is the culmination of years of hard work and a tribute to the determination of the local community to answer the nation’s call.
“This is great news for the site and the nation,” he said. “I am pleased we are continuing to make progress on this national security project.”
The design of the facility is being based on the both the Melox and La Hague facilities, two MOX fuel facilities in France. Melox and La Hague produce MOX fuel for 30 nuclear reactors in Europe, where MOX technology has been used for more than 20 years.
