Emerging issues in radioactive material transport

Abstract

Nuclear power currently generates ∼16% of the world's electricity and is set to play an increasingly significant role in meeting the world's growing need for sustainable, clean and affordable electricity. As the industry expands, so too will the demand for fuel cycle services which inevitably places new and greater demands on transport. The demand for other radioactive materials, for example, cobalt 60 sources used for a range of important medical, humanitarian and industrial applications, is also likely to increase. These gamma sources are manufactured in very few countries and both sea and air transport is therefore vital to distribute them to users worldwide. A reliable transport infrastructure is essential to support all these industries and the challenge will be to ensure that this can be maintained safely and securely in a changing world where security and other concerns have increased. The sources of nuclear fuel cycle services often are remote from the demand centres. An essential question for nuclear power generation in the future surely must be: even if availability of fuel can be assured, how can transport to support such a programme be assured? At the front end of the fuel cycle, could existing commercial liner services be relied upon, particularly in an environment where there already are increasing delays and denials of shipments? Indeed, is it possible to assure availability of transport in a commercial environment? More problematic still, where will the capacity to transport spent fuel, reprocessed fuel and residues in greater volumes and across expanded routes come from? More transport to areas potentially lacking in infrastructure, service providers and experience raises a variety of issues including compliance with regulation, harmonised standards, security and training. The US Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) Strategic Plan says much about a government–industry partnership to build a nuclear fuel recycling centre and a prototype advanced recycling reactor. Is a similar partnership between government and industry conceivable for the transport of the assured supply? Transport of radioactive materials cannot be taken for granted: it faces a variety of challenges, and there are a number of emerging issues in the wider nuclear industry that have important implications for transport.