Commissariat à l\'Energie Atomique

The Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (ECA) is a French public research organization (in the fields of the energy, defense, information the Technologies and health) established on 9 sites in France. The principal centers of studies are with Saclay, in Île-de-France, with Cadarache in Provence and Grenoble.

The ECA, whose Statut is that of a public corporation in scientific matter, technical and industrial, has the role of developing the applications of nuclear energy in the fields scientist, industrialist, and of national defense. It employs approximately 15  000 paid. Its annual budget is of 2,7 billion euros.

It is a industrial and commercial public corporation (EPIC). Its statute is fixed by Ordinance 2004-545 of June 11th 2004, abrogeant and replacing the Ordinance constitutive of October 18th 1945.

Organization

It is organized in five great directions (by decreasing order of manpower):

• direction of nuclear energy;
• direction of the military applications;
• direction of technological research;
• direction of sciences of the matter;
• direction of sciences of the alive one.

The ECA is the majority shareholder of Areva, company chapeautant Areva NC (ex-Cogema) and Areva NP (ex-Framatome).

The ECA is also shareholder of ECA Valorization S.A. specialized company in the investment in capital of pre-starting and in the marketing of licenses.

History

The ECA is created the October 18th 1945 by Charles de Gaulle with at her head Frederic Joliot-Curie (High-Commissioner with atomic energy) and Raoul Dautry (general administrator). This organization is intended to continue “ scientific research and techniques for the use of the nuclear energy in the fields of science, the Industrie and the National defense ” (article first of the decree of October 18th 1945).

The Pile Zoe, an atomic pile with heavy Water built by the team of Joliot-Curie to the Extremely of Châtillon (Fontenay-Aux-Roses), diverges in 1948.

Joliot-curie, which is member of the French Communist party, lance the Appel of Stockholm against the atomic bomb. In April 1950, it is revoked of its post of High-Commissioner by Georges Bidault. Francis Perrin replaces it.

After the departure of Joliot-Curie, the ECA, until dominated there by the scientists and the basic research, launches out in the military and civil applications of atomic energy. Even if the government did not make the decision yet to build a atomic bomb, all is implemented to obtain the means of building it.

In 1952, the center of nuclear studies of Saclay is open on a ground of 271 hectares into full Plateau with Saclay.

With Marcoule, the engines G1 (1956) are successively built, G2 (1959) and G3 (1960) of type Uranium Natural-Graphite-Gas (UNGG). A factory to extract the Plutonium from worn fuel is also built. Thanks to these installations, France can carry out its first nuclear test in the the Sahara in 1960, only two years after the official decision was made.

With Pierrelatte, a factory of Uranium enrichment of military use is built.

In Chinon, the ECA and EDF collaborate in the construction of engines EDF 1 (1962, 68 MW), EDF 2 (1965, 200 MW) and EDF 3 (1967, 500 MW) of type UNGG.

The war of the dies opposes the ECA and EDF: first of the French die Natural Uranium is in favor Graphite Gas while the second defends the die of the pressurized water reactors (Pressurized Water Reactor) of American origin. In December 1969, the government slices in favor of EDF and decides the construction of a power station with pressurized water with Fessenheim.

In 1973, the first plant prototype nuclear reactor with fast neutrons and coolant sodium Phoenix is brought into service at Marcoule.

In 1976, the French government places order of Super-Phenix.

In 1985, the nuclear plant of Brennilis, prototype moderated by heavy water, is stopped definitively.

In 1997, the French government announces that Super-Phenix will be abandoned.

In 2001, subsidiary company ECA Industries amalgamates with Framatome and the Cogema to form a new group called Areva.

High-Commissioners

• Frederic Joliot-Curie (1945-1950), named by Charles de Gaulle

• Francis Perrin (1950-1970), named in 1950 by Vincent Auriol, renewed in 1956 by Rene Coty, in 1961 and 1966 by Charles de Gaulle
• Jacques Yvon (1970-1975), named by Georges Pompidou
• Jean Teillac (1975-1993), named in 1975 by Valery Giscard d'Estaing, renewed in 1981 by François Mitterrand
• Robert Dautray (1993-1998), named by François Mitterrand
• Rene Pellat (1998-2003), named by Jacques Chirac
• Bernard Bigot (2003-), named by Jacques Chirac

General administrators

• Raoul Dautry (1945 - 1951), named by Charles de Gaulle

• Pierre Guillaumat (1951 - 1958), named by Rene Pleven
• Pierre Seams (1958 - 1963), named by Charles de Gaulle
• Robert Hirsch (1963 - 1970), named by Charles de Gaulle
• André Giraud (1970 - 1978), named by Georges Pompidou
• Michel Pecqueur (1978 - 1983), named by Valery Giscard d'Estaing
• Gerard Renon (1983 - 1986), named by François Mitterrand
• Jean-Pierre Capron (1986 - 1989), named by François Mitterrand
• Philippe Rouvillois (1989 - 1995), named by François Mitterrand
• Yannick d' Escatha (1995 - 1999), named by Jacques Chirac
• Pascal Colombani (2000 - 2002), named by Jacques Chirac
• Alain Bugat (2003 -), named by Jacques Chirac