Mission

Synatom's activities have two main focuses.

The nuclear fuel cycle

Synatom is responsible for activities upstream of the nuclear fuel cycle (the front end) until the enriched uranium is supplied to the assembly production plant.

From this point on, the operator, so in this case ELECTRABEL, manages the production and use of fuel assemblies in the reactor core and their transmission to the spent fuel pool.

Synatom then takes charge of the process downstream of the fuel cycle (the back end), so the management of the spent fuel up to the time when it is passed on to the Belgian Agency for Radioactive Waste and Enriched Fissile Materials (ONDRAF/NIRAS) on the site of ONDRAF/NIRAS’s  subsidiary BELGOPROCESS in Dessel. These days, this by and large means interim storage on the Doel and Tihange sites.

Nuclear provisions

Synatom establishes nuclear provisions, i.e. sums of money to eventually cover the expenses of nuclear power plant decommissioning and the management of spent fuel.

Synatom also takes care of public service obligations, seeing to the annual collection of the special contribution for nuclear activities, or nuclear tax, on behalf of the Belgian State.

Vision

• Synatom takes a long view.
• SYNATOM firmly believes that nuclear energy remains a key part of the energy mix.
• Be it in Belgium or elsewhere in Europe or the world, nuclear energy has a role to play in the economic developments of the future, which must seek to make progress towards steadily reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
  As such, Synatom is determined to offer the best possible price for the long-term supply of fuel.
• In Synatom's view, we can learn a lot from the decommissioning of nuclear facilities around the world, as they facilitate accurate judgements on the financial resources needed to eventually decommission Belgium's nuclear power plants.
• SYNATOM expects the ongoing research on radioactive waste management to lead to significant technological advances.

Values

In carrying out all its activities, Synatom abides by four inextricably linked values:

• Exactingness: Synatom adopts the highest possible standards. It applies the best practices and constantly develops pragmatic, cost-justified solutions.
• Commitment: Synatom is committed to guaranteeing a safe supply of nuclear fuel as well as an adapted management of spent fuel. Synatom manages financial provisions in a spirit of complete transparency and exercising excellent judgement.
• Proactiveness and responsiveness: Synatom foresees developments and responds quickly and judiciously.
• Openness: Synatom invests in research and development. It develops trust-based relationships with all of its partners.

Governance

The Board of Directors of Synatom consists of 8 Board members and two Federal Government representatives. The processes for checking good repute, required expertise and independence were initiated in December 2022.

Composition of the Board of Directors

• Cécile Flandre – Chairwoman (independant)
• Dimitri Stroobants – CEO 
• Hélène Durand - Director
• Michael Gillis – Director
• Thierry Saegeman - Director
• Patrick Gaussent – Director
• Jan Longeval – Independant Director
• Maximilien de Limburg Stirum – Independant Director
• Carl Malbrain – Federal Government Representative
• Olivier Soumeryn-Schmit - Federal Government Representative

It also includes two committees :

• An Audit Committee composed from three members chosen from the Directors. The members of the audit committee are :
  • Chair : Patrick Gaussent
  • Members : Jan Longeval, Maximilien de Limburg Stirum
  • Dominique Ghislain, Synatom's CFO is a permanent guest of the audit committees, without decision rights.
• An Investment Committee composed from four members chosen from the Directors and with an independant Director as Chairman. The members of the investment committee are :
  • Chair: Jan Longeval
  • Members: Hélène Durand, Dimitri Stroobants, Patrick Gaussent
  • Xavier Piret, Synatom's Chief Investment Officer, is a permanent guest of the investment committees, with no decision rights.

The Day to day management 

The Day to day management of the company is ensured by the CEO, chosen by the Board of Directors.  

The company is organized in five departments, in charge of the front end and the back end of the nuclear fuel cycle, the finances, the investments and the legal.