Abstract
The United Kingdom holds the largest stockpile of separated civil plutonium in the world, projected to reach 140t, at the end of this decade, when reprocessing operations are complete. UK Government policy is that this material should be reused as MOX fuel in Light Water Reactors. This policy is re-examined in the light of recent experience of the US plutonium disposition programme, in which the MOX Fuel Fabrication Facility is now considered to be potentially unaffordable. Problematic aspects of US programme, relevant to the UK scenario, are reviewed, to understand the possible impact on UK policy. Based on the US experience and inherent uncertainty regarding the capital and operational costs of MOX fuel fabrication and plutonium immobilisation facilities, and the associated technical risks, it is concluded that the UK policy should explicitly adopt a dual track strategy to plutonium management, with commitment that: any remaining plutonium which is not converted into MOX fuel, or otherwise reused, will be immobilised and treated as waste for disposal. This will also ensure that the UK is positioned and prepared to take forward an immobilisation and disposal programme for the plutonium stockpile, should reuse as MOX fuel not prove an economic or viable option.
Highlights
The UK holds stockpile of separated plutonium which is projected to exceed 140 t at the end of planned nuclear fuel reprocessing operations in 2020 (Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, 2014), this is the largest stockpile of plutonium under civil safeguards worldwide
The UK policy for plutonium management is essentially a singletrack strategy, with reuse in Mixed Oxide (MOX) fuel identified as the preferred option, and immobilisation and disposal considered only for material whose condition is such that cannot be converted into MOX fuel
A brief and high level consideration of the US plutonium disposition programme has highlighted the benefit of an explicit dual-track strategy to the reuse and immobilisation of plutonium stockpiles
Summary
The UK holds stockpile of separated plutonium which is projected to exceed 140 t at the end of planned nuclear fuel reprocessing operations in 2020 (Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, 2014), this is the largest stockpile of plutonium under civil safeguards worldwide. It is proposed that UK policy should adopt a more flexible dual-track strategy to plutonium management with explicit advocacy of immobilisation and disposal for any plutonium which is not designated for reuse as MOX or other nuclear fuel Such an amendment to the current policy would provide the required latitude to develop the capability to implement an immobilisation and disposal approach for the whole stockpile, should MOX reuse prove uneconomic or unviable. This is recognised in current NDA strategy, with a commitment to “develop an approach to immobilisation of plutonium for that part of the inventory which is unsuitable for re-use and in the event that reuse cannot be successfully implemented” (Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, 2016)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
