Supply assurance in the nuclear fuel cycle

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979 · Annu. Rev. Energy; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.eg.04.110179.001355· OSTI ID:5881367

Neff, T L; Jacoby, H D

Nuclear fuel assurance, in the face of world and political uncertainties, is interrelated with nuclear technology development plans and international safeguards considerations. This has led some countries to accelerate their commitments to nuclear commercialization faster than necessary and has made non-proliferation policies harder to enforce. Fuel assurance is described on a national basis in three time scales: short-term, or resilience to supply interruptions; mid-term, or contract conditions in which governments make commitments to purchase or deliver; and long-term, or resource adequacy. A review of former assurance problems and current trends in the enrichment and uranium markets indicates that supplier concentration is no longer the major problem so much as non-proliferation actions. The present state of unstable equilibrium is expected to move in the direction of less fuel-supply assurance for countries having a small market or not subscribing to non-proliferation criteria. The authors, while generally optimistic that the fuel-supply system will function, express concern that policies for fuel stockpiles and the condition of uranium markets need improvement. 21 references.

• Research Organization: Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge
• OSTI ID: 5881367
• Journal Information: Annu. Rev. Energy; (United States), Journal Name: Annu. Rev. Energy; (United States) Vol. 4; ISSN AREDD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

051000 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Economic
Industrial
& Business Aspects
055001 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Safeguards
Inspection
& Accountability-- Technical Aspects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290600* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Nuclear Energy
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
ACTINIDES
AVAILABILITY
DOCUMENT TYPES
ECONOMICS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY SUPPLIES
ENRICHED URANIUM
FUEL CYCLE
FUELS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
ISOTOPE ENRICHED MATERIALS
MARKET
METALS
NON-PROLIFERATION POLICY
NUCLEAR FUELS
POLITICAL ASPECTS
REACTOR MATERIALS
REVIEWS
SUPPLY AND DEMAND
URANIUM