French multinational energy company Orano announced Monday an agreement with CNLA, a subsidiary of China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), to start preparatory work on a used fuel processing and recycling plant project in China.
The agreement between Orano Projets, the Orano group's engineering subsidiary, and CNLA is valid until the end of 2018, and covers the work to be carried out in advance by Orano in preparation for the recycling plant project, a statement said.
Chairman of Orano Projets Patrick Jacq said this agreement marked 'a new step in the discussions to launch by the end of 2018 the project to build a recycling plant in China with a capacity of 800 tons'.
'Some 100 people are mobilized within Orano to perform this preparatory work,' he added.
The agreement follows a January memorandum of commercial agreement between France and China, according to the statement.
By Huseyin Erdogan
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr