The United States is making available to commercial atomic energy reactors a stockpile of low-enriched uranium fuel that was blended down from excess weapon-grade uranium, the U.S. National Nuclear Security Agency announced on Thursday (see GSN, Dec. 7, 2010).
The American Assured Fuel Supply stockpile is intended to encourage growth in the civilian atomic power field in a manner that does not promote proliferation. Unlike highly enriched uranium that is still used at atomic reactors around the world, LEU fuel is not suitable for use in a nuclear weapon.
Material from the LEU fuel stock could be delivered to reactors in the United States or other nations that find themselves cut off from their regular supply, according to an NNSA press release. The project complements a repository to be managed by the International Atomic Energy Agency that would supply countries with civilian atomic reactor fuel on an apolitical basis in hopes of deterring them from pursuing fuel-cycle capabilities that could be used to produce nuclear-weapon material (see GSN, Dec. 16, 2010).
"As more countries look to nuclear power as a low-carbon option for addressing growing energy demands, assuring a fuel supply without promoting proliferation-sensitive technologies is a critical national security priority," Energy Secretary Steven Chu said in provided remarks. "The Assured Fuel Supply helps demonstrate our commitment to nuclear nonproliferation by eliminating surplus weapons uranium in a way that promotes the peaceful use of nuclear energy."
The Energy Department declared in 2005 that the United States would designate 17.4 metric tons of HEU material to be converted into low-grade uranium and set aside as a reserve stockpile in the event of supply turbulence. The uranium conversion is anticipated to be finished next year. The large majority of the converted material -- 230 metric tons of low-enriched uranium -- is to be set aside for the Assured Fuel Supply stockpile.
Source: http://www.aspentimes.com
The American Assured Fuel Supply stockpile is intended to encourage growth in the civilian atomic power field in a manner that does not promote proliferation. Unlike highly enriched uranium that is still used at atomic reactors around the world, LEU fuel is not suitable for use in a nuclear weapon.
Material from the LEU fuel stock could be delivered to reactors in the United States or other nations that find themselves cut off from their regular supply, according to an NNSA press release. The project complements a repository to be managed by the International Atomic Energy Agency that would supply countries with civilian atomic reactor fuel on an apolitical basis in hopes of deterring them from pursuing fuel-cycle capabilities that could be used to produce nuclear-weapon material (see GSN, Dec. 16, 2010).
"As more countries look to nuclear power as a low-carbon option for addressing growing energy demands, assuring a fuel supply without promoting proliferation-sensitive technologies is a critical national security priority," Energy Secretary Steven Chu said in provided remarks. "The Assured Fuel Supply helps demonstrate our commitment to nuclear nonproliferation by eliminating surplus weapons uranium in a way that promotes the peaceful use of nuclear energy."
The Energy Department declared in 2005 that the United States would designate 17.4 metric tons of HEU material to be converted into low-grade uranium and set aside as a reserve stockpile in the event of supply turbulence. The uranium conversion is anticipated to be finished next year. The large majority of the converted material -- 230 metric tons of low-enriched uranium -- is to be set aside for the Assured Fuel Supply stockpile.
Source: http://www.aspentimes.com
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