Explosion at French nuclear site; 1 killed, 4 injured

Paris - 12 Sep 2011: An explosion at the French nuclear site of Marcoule on Monday killed one person and injured four others, media reports said.

There is a risk of a radioactive leak after an explosion in an oven at the nuclear site near the city ofNimesin the south ofFrance, emergency services said. However, but local police said there was no risk of contamination.

The site is partly used by French nuclear giantArevato produce MOX fuel which recycles plutonium from nuclear weapons. Part of the process involves firing superheated plutonium and uranium pellets in an oven.

Marcoule is a nuclear waste management site that does not include any reactors.

source: Agencies