Technical and economic problems of nuclear fuel reprocessing

A survey is presented of nuclear fuel reprocessing problems with a view to the significance, history and the current state of reprocessing. Factors stipulating international cooperation are discussed and some results are given of cooperation between capitalist countries. Data are tabulated on constructed, projected or reconstructed reprocessing plants in the capitalist countries. The conclusion is arrived at that the lack of reprocessing capacities for highly irradiated oxide fuels may, in the future, be only coped with by constructing new reprocessing plants, this in harmony with projecting and constructing nuclear power installations. (J.H.)