TWOFOLD MISSION // The Eurochemic pilot plant was founded in December 1957 by an international consortium of twelve OESO countries (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development), in partnership with the private sector. The twelve partners were: Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, Austria, Norway, Turkey and Portugal. In 1959, Spain also joined this group of countries. Eurochemic’s mission was twofold: the construction and operation of an experimental reprocessing plant for the recycling of spent nuclear fuel and conducting scientific research into new reprocessing methods. Eurochemic offered the participating countries an opportunity to take their first steps in the complex area of recycling nuclear fuel. In the laboratories of Eurochemic, the future European nuclear scientists received their training. The early Eurochemic employees would later fill key positions in international nuclear organisations and companies.