International consensus sought on plutonium storage

Journal Article · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1979 · Energy Int.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6346785

Greenhalgh, G

If utilities are able to secure reprocessing of their spent reactor fuel, the separated plutonium must be stored until it can be used in fast reactors. A study by Russell W. Fox and Mason Willrich, ''international custody of plutonium stocks: a first step toward an international regime for sensitive nuclear energy activities'', proposes an international scheme for establishment of plutonium stores that would follow the ideas previously set out for the storage of untreated spent-fuel and fission-product wastes. The paper starts from the assumption that 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. With present unease over non-proliferation risks and the urgent need to create an international consensus on an acceptable regime for the necessary development of nuclear power to proceed, the authors propose that priority be given to negotiation of measures that will provide an effective international control over plutonium stocks. They draw attention to the fact that stocks of plutonium in excess of immediate needs for specific civil power and research purposes are likely to exist in an increasing number of countries in which reprocessing plants are in operation, or under construction, and that placing this excess plutonium under international control would reduce the proliferation risk without hampering the development of civil nuclear power. Specific criteria for releasing plutonium from the store, spent fuel storage needs, and national schemes are discussed. (MCW)

• OSTI ID: 6346785
• Journal Information: Energy Int.; (United States), Journal Name: Energy Int.; (United States) Vol. 16:4; ISSN ENEIB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050800 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Spent Fuels Reprocessing
052000* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Management
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290600 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Nuclear Energy
ACTINIDES
CONTROL
DECISION MAKING
ECONOMICS
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
FAST REACTORS
FISSION PRODUCTS
FUELS
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
ISOTOPES
METALS
NUCLEAR FUELS
PLUTONIUM
PROLIFERATION
PUBLIC UTILITIES
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
REACTOR MATERIALS
REACTORS
REPROCESSING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SPENT FUELS
STORAGE
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS