Nuclear fuels supply

This study program was carried out by the EEI Policy Committee on Nuclear Power with assistance from the Tennessee Valley Authority and certain members of the American Public Power Association. The Enrichment and Processing Group of the Japanese Electric Utility Industry became a co-sponsor of the program. Conclusions are: (1) the U.S. is now significantly dependent on nuclear power for generation of electricity; (2) demand for electricity is expected to continue to grow, with nuclear power to make an increasing contribution; (3) nuclear fuels must be supplied in amounts required to sustain the current and prospective demand; (4) assurance of supply of nuclear fuels for the power plants now in operation or committed is generally satisfactory for the short term (1975 to 1980) and less satisfactory but manageable for the near term (1975 to 1985); (5) supply for the longer term (1985-on) depends on the near-term deficiencies being corrected and timely decisions made on long lead-time items; (6) supply operations that should be accorded the highest priority in the near term are uranium exploration, mining and milling, enrichment and spent fuel storage; (7) it is urgent that a nationally acceptable radioactive waste management plan be implemented and reprocessing and recycle of uranium and plutonium be demonstrated; (8) problems of nuclear fuels supply are technically solvable; present difficulties stem principally from the impact of open issues of public policy on regulatory decision making; and (9) utilities should plan to act to: (a) assure a maximum of viable competitive private sector supply operations and (b) more effectively impact on U.S. Government decision making on nuclear fuels supply