How can the cost of spent fuel reprocessing be reduced and reliable isolation of all the wastes be ensured?

Abstract

The facilities operating in the world are today incapable of reprocessing the whole amount of the already accumulated and annually unloaded NPP spent fuel. Therefore, the spent nuclear fuel (SNF) reprocessing is not considered today as the only alternative of the nuclear fuel cycle. The paper attempts to analyze measures aimed at reducing expenditures for NPP fuel reprocessing. In the author’s opinion, the existing approach to the SNF reprocessing technology should be revised taking into account prospects for using REMIX fuel, with possible expansion of the range of fission products suitable for further use.