4. MOX fuel behavior in the reactor

The general aim is to use MOX fuel under the same conditions as UO ₂ fuel. However, since its introduction into reactors in France in 900 PWRs, MOX has been irradiated for 3 annual cycles, whereas UO ₂ fuel resides 4 cycles in reactors. This is known as "hybrid" management.

Future management called "MOX Parity" aims to manage MOX fuel like UO ₂ fuel. It is therefore necessary to increase MOX discharge depletion by bringing its maximum burnup (average burnup of the most loaded assembly) to the same value as that of UO ₂ : 52 GWj / t since 1998.

The economic stakes are high, as achieving parity between UO ₂ and MOX...