International custody of plutonium stocks: a first step toward an international regime for sensitive nuclear-energy activities

Book · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:5629564

Fox, R W; Willrich, M

In view of the present lack of confidence in the established non-proliferation regime - and the urgency of creating an international consensus on an acceptable regime in order that necessary development of nuclear power may proceed - it is suggested that a useful first step would be to reach the broadest possible agreement on arrangements for international custody of civilian plutonium. It is hoped that such an agreement could accelerate further steps toward an effective and acceptable international regime for the conduct of sensitive nuclear-energy activities involving the production or processing of weapons-usable materials. The discussion on this subject rests on the following assumptions: the world energy situation will be more difficult to manage, nationally and internationally, without nuclear power than if it is used wherever and whenever it can be reasonably justified on economic and other relevant grounds; and nuclear power is being developed along a variety of technological paths, including once-through fuel cycles based on light water and heavy water reactors, and fuel cycles involving reprocessing to recover plutonium from spent fuel for possible future use in breeder reactors and, depending on the timing of breeder reactor commercialization, in light water reactors. No common path is likely to be followed by all countries, but rather, nuclear power will continue to be developed in a growing number of countries along diverse lines according to different schedules. (MCW)

• OSTI ID: 5629564
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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