International nuclear industry today: the end of the American monopoly
The rapid spread of nuclear reactors, uranium enrichment facilities, and reprocessing plants outside of the nuclear weapons club--to countries such as Brazil, South Korea, and the Union of South Africa--has caused concern resulting in a suggestion that the technology transfer be banned until more acceptable safeguards are adopted. Several reasons why this approach to the proliferation problem is unlikely to be successful are discussed. First, the U.S. no longer possesses a monopoly over reactor technologies or fuel cycle processes. In fact, in the area of reprocessing and breeder reactor development the U.S. lags behind other industrialized countries. Second, the nature of the nuclear industries in most of these countries makes it highly unlikely that they would go along with such an embargo; rather, they would be likely to exploit the opportunity for additional nuclear sales to the fullest. Third, such a policy would run the risk of wrecking the existing NPT which guarantees countries nondiscriminatory access to nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. These facts have led some in the domestic nuclear power establishment to conclude that the current realities of the international nuclear energy industry not only rule out the possibility of an effective unilateral U.S. embargo policy but mandate the cessation of nuclear trade. The author presents his views against this argument. He says that trade in nuclear facilities can be effectively regulated through cooperative agreements and international institutional arrangements. Recent agreements to regulate such trade, signed by six key countries, is a step in the right direction. (MCW)
- Research Organization:
- Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge
- OSTI ID:
- 7264141
- Journal Information:
- Foreign Aff.; (United States), Journal Name: Foreign Aff.; (United States) Vol. 54:4; ISSN FRNAA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290600* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Nuclear Energy
293000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Policy
Legislation
& Regulation
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
AFRICA
AGREEMENTS
ASIA
BILATERAL AGREEMENTS
BRAZIL
BREEDER REACTORS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENRICHED URANIUM REACTORS
FUEL CYCLE
FUEL REPROCESSING PLANTS
FUELS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
IAEA
INDUSTRY
INSPECTION
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
MARKET
NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR FUELS
NUCLEAR INDUSTRY
NUCLEAR MATERIALS DIVERSION
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
POWER PLANTS
REACTOR MATERIALS
REACTORS
REGULATIONS
REPUBLIC OF KOREA
SAFEGUARDS
SOUTH AFRICA
SOUTH AMERICA
SPENT FUELS
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
TREATIES
USA