ABSTRACT
In a discussion on internationalization of the sensitive parts of the fuel cycle it is useful to start with a knowledge of the quantities of material involved, and the plant and storage capacities needed. Using INFCE’s projections of nuclear power capacity up to the year 2025, along with general data on reactor operation plus some plausible assumptions, the author has calculated several global projections relating to the production of plutonium, the production of spent fuel elements and uranium utilization. With the once-through cycle the uranium reserves may be exhausted by the year 2015, and the total amount of accumulated plutonium could then be about 7 000 tonnes and the total weight of the spent fuel elements about 0.8 million tonnes. Depletion of the uranium reserves would necessitate the introduction of the fast breeder. If the projected nuclear energy production of 4 300 GW(e) for the year 2025 were to be met entirely by fast breeders, the amount of plutonium that would have to be processed annually would by about 10 000 tonnes. The implications for the internationalization of reprocessing and enrichment plants are briefly discussed, and deep concern is expressed about the proliferation problems of a fast breeder regime.
