Nuclear energy: the uranium paths

This book gives a general overview of the nuclear industry, its technical realities and implications in terms of industrial, economical, safety and environmental organization. After a brief presentation of the electro-nuclear industry, the different steps of the fuel cycle are detailed, from the extraction of the uranium ore to the reprocessing of spent fuels and the long-term management of radioactive wastes. The PWR reactors, the transport of radioactive materials and the dismantling of nuclear facilities are also presented. In a second part, the radioprotection, safety, environmental impact and public information are analyzed in the context of the French nuclear industry. (J.S.)