Developments in the worldwide use of nuclear energy - present state and perspectives of the framework conditions of their supply and waste management

The nuclear technology world market which, ever since the beginnings of the peaceful use of nuclear energy, has been committed to a set of agreements aiming at the non-proliferation of fissionable material fit for use in weapons, now looks back at a turbulent decade in international non-proliferation policy, starting with the detonation of the Indian atomic bomb in 1974. Besides economic considerations applying to nuclear energy, other factors will influence the future trends in the development of nuclear energy, in particular developments in the field of non-proliferation policy and the respective nuclear energy policy of the Western industrialized countries and COMECON member countries. Taking into account this extraordinary situation, an attempt is made to give a survey of the worldwide situation in the field of nuclear energy. This article is constructed as follows: A description of the structure of a nuclear power plant, a description of the elements of the fuel cycle, a discussion in detail of the international nuclear energy policy, and the registration and assessment of the most important framework conditions for future developments in the field of nuclear energy. (orig./UA)