Interim storage - the precursor to disposal of spent fuel

In the South African context, the interim storage of spent fuel over 30 years can be regarded as the precursor to the disposal of spent fuel as high-level waste. As a utility, Eskom is in the fortunate position of not having various fuel cycle services imposed on it before they are actually needed. A primary concern is keeping the costs of nuclear power to the consumer to a minimum. For this reason, nuclear issues which could result in further cost penalties are carefully scrutinized to limit unnecessary expenditure. Capital-intensive nuclear fuel cycle support activities, such as reprocessing plants and high-level waste disposal facilities, are subject to particular scrutiny. Each of these activities requires hundreds of millions to billions of rands of capital investment to install and is probably costly to run. Eskom considers it appropriate to minimize and delay these costs as fas as possible, which is why interim storage of spent fuel plays a very important role in Eskom's fuel cycle activities. A general review of the literature by Eskom has indicated that the most attractive option for the back end is the direct disposal of spent fuel. (author)