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François Loos, Minister of Industry, launched the construction of the Jules Horowitz research reactor (RJH) on March 19th, 2007. The ceremony took place in the presence of Alain Bugat, general administrator of the CEA (Atomic Energy Authority), Philippe Pradel, director of nuclear energy at CEA, Serge Durand, director of the Cadarache establishment, French industrial partners (EDF, Areva), international industrials and more than 500 guests. The RJH aims at finalizing and testing new fuels and materials to be used in the electric reactors of today and the future, notably to prepare the 4th generation. Beyond these applications in the field of energy, the RJH will assure 25 % of the production of the European needs in radio-elements used in nuclear medicine and could contribute to the production of high performing silicon for the components of the electronic industry.
Scheduled to function in 2014
François Loos indicated during his short speech " the RJH is a major project for the region, which by strengthening the pole of Cadarache, will have important economic spin-offs in addition to those of ITER. Consequently, several hundreds of direct and indirect jobs will be created. For the construction of the reactor, almost two thirds of the project expenses should return to the regional industries ". He also stressed " the CEA’s capacity to convince and mobilize the most prestigious partners around a structuring project that will contribute to develop energies not generating gas with greenhouse effect, according to the directive of the last European council planning to reduce gas emissions with greenhouse effect by 20 % in Europe by 2020 ".
The investment for the RJH corresponds to 500 million euros: 50 % financed by the CEA, 20 % by the international partners, 20 % by EDF and 10 % by Areva. On the occasion of this ceremony, Alain Bugat reminded " considering the importance of the stakes involved in the energy policy, the capacity of research and development to meet the requirements of industry and the public authorities by offering more competitive solutions, whilst guaranteeing the best levels of security, becomes a central subject. If, these last decades, R&D contributed to the competitiveness of nuclear energy by reducing the cost of electricity production, there remain numerous scientific and technological challenges to be taken on so that nuclear energy may become durably accepted in the energy policies ". By expressing himself in the name of the international partners of the project (Belgium, Spain, Finland, Czech Republic and soon others), Frank Deconinck, president of the European Nuclear Society, indicated that " the RJH is a demonstration of the new culture in which the scientific headways obtained within an international collaboration must benefit to all humanity and not only serve national interests ".