1. General information on absorbent materials

PWR: Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR in the USA, VVER in Russia), which makes up the whole of EDF's current fleet.

BWR: Boiling Water Reactor, widely used in North America and India.

LWR: Heavy Water Reactor, used in Canada (CANDU) and South Korea.

RG: Gas reactors which include the following types:

• UNGG: Uranium Naturel Graphite Gaz (France's first plant, currently being dismantled);

• HTR : High Temperature Reactor (HTR);

• AGR: Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor.

RHTs and AGRs were conceived in the 1970s and have been revived as part of the Generation-IV international...