A PROPOSED APPROACH TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF INTERNATIONAL CENTERS FOR REPROCESSING AND MOX FUEL FABRICATION

U.S. policy on reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel and recovery and recycle of the contained plutonium has been based on the belief that these activities would increase the likelihood of proliferation of the nuclear materials involved. This view is not shared by most other COWltries. This paper describes a proposed approach to establishing international centers in which to conduct reprocessing and fabrication of mixed oxide (MOX) fuel which would (i) provide tight safeguards control over the facilities and operations involved, (ii) provide full access of countries with small nuclear power programs to the benefits of reprocessing and recycle at costs similar to that for countries with large programs, and (iii) maximize assurance of availability of the reprocessing and recycle services regardless of the political relations between participating countries on other matters. This paper outlines an approach for financing and ownership, location, international control, and a methodology for establishment of prices for services.