Fuel Fabrication

In a fuel fabrication plant, enriched uranium hexafluoride is converted into fuel for nuclear reactors. Converted first into uranium dioxide powder, it is then processed into pellets by pressing and sintering. These pellets are then sealed in tubes called fuel rods. Several fuel rods, depending on the reactor type, are assembled to form fuel assemblies. They are about 4m long and are transported in specially designed steel packages to the reactor site.