Nuclear Islands: International Leasing of Nuclear Fuel Cycle Sites to Provide Enduring Assurance of Peaceful Use
Current International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards do not provide adequate protection against the diversion to military use of materials or technology from certain types of sensitive nuclear fuel cycle facilities. In view of highly enriched uranium’s relatively greater ease of use as a nuclear explosive material than plutonium and the significant diseconomies of commercial spent fuel reprocessing, this article focuses on the need for improved international controls over uranium enrichment facilities as the proximate justification for creation of an International Nuclear Fuel Cycle Association (INFCA). In principle, the proposal is equally applicable to alleviating the proliferation concerns provoked by nuclear fuel reprocessing plants and other sensitive nuclear fuel cycle facilities. The INFCA would provide significantly increased nonproliferation assurance to its member states and the wider international community by holding long-term leasehold contracts to operate secure restricted zones containing such sensitive nuclear facilities.
- Research Organization:
- USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 1133919
- Journal Information:
- Nonproliferation Review, Vol. 17, Issue 3; ISSN 1073-6700
- Publisher:
- Natural Resources Defense Council
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
The North Korean nuclear dilemma.
Mitigating the Threat of Nuclear-Weapon Proliferation via Nuclear-Submarine Programs