Recent notable progresses on nuclear non-proliferation about uranium enrichment and spent fuel treatment

In spite of Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Accident the growing needs for nuclear energy utilization which includes fuel fabrication, spent fuel treatment, and uranium enrichment in developing countries and many newcomer countries are remarkable, while some anxiety exists for nuclear proliferation of sensitive technologies such as uranium enrichment and nuclear reprocessing. The control or disposal of the accumulated spent fuels by individual country remains not only the problem for safety but also the risk of nuclear proliferation. International Nuclear Fuel Cycle Framework involving multi-national control of fuel cycle facilities, reliable fresh fuel supply, spent fuel management and peaceful proliferation was proposed previously to find solution concerning compatibility between the peaceful use of nuclear energy and nuclear non-proliferation. This paper focuses on current topics and challenges to this compatibility and explores future possible solutions. (S. Ohno)