Assured Nuclear Fuel Supply
The topic of assured fuel supply has been increasing in international significance. As fossil fuels become scarcer, nuclear power is seen as an increasingly attractive and dependable source of clean energy. A recent presidential initiative, the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) recognizes a renaissance of nuclear power, and seeks to develop a nuclear fuel cycle that balances energy security and nonproliferation. It seems clear that new nuclear reactors may be necessary to fuel projected growth, particularly in Asia. Assurances of nuclear fuel supply and spent fuel take-back can provide a means for States to confidently implement nuclear energy programs and ensure that adequate proliferation resistance is maintained.
Providing fuel supply assurance options removes the need for indigenous enrichment and reprocessing programs. These facilities are only needed for fuel manufacturing and waste management. President Bush and Mohamed ElBaradei, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have both emphasized the need for controlling proliferation of enrichment and reprocessing technology, which are listed as “sensitive technologies” by the Nuclear Suppliers Group because they allow a country to create weapons-grade fissile material. Currently, complete nuclear fuel cycles are not economic unless they operate at a very high capacity to service a large nuclear power program, and raise proliferation risks. Developing assured fuel supply options will be a critical component to resolving international proliferation concerns such as those in Iran.
The Center for Global Security and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are engaged in several aspects of analyzing how to establish a program for assured fuel supply, including: economic analysis of the Iranian enrichment program, economic and feasibility analysis of establishing a nuclear fuel stockpile for assured fuel supply, and planning a “Secretary Roundtable” for discussion of assured fuel supply concepts among government and industry representatives.
Options for Creating a Nuclear Fuel Stockpile for Assured Nuclear Fuel Supply 109 kb