Technical and commercial development of reprocessing services

A review of the technical and commercial developments in the nuclear fuel cycle over the past 30 years shows that processes exist which serve the present needs of the industry. The contractual arrangements are somewhat unusual, partly because the capital involved is large and the products are extraordinary. The technical processes, based on many years of experience of reprocessing, have reached a stage where further development is unlikely to be, and indeed, does not need to be rapid. The prime requirement is a progressive development of the industry so that designs, developments, and operating experience can be built up steadily to meet the increasing demands for reprocessing capacity in the future. 6 references, 4 tables