Fuel cycles of the future

A fuel cycle strategy should aim to: maximize the utilization of fissile material, which is a global energy resource, by recycling unused uranium and plutonium from irradiated fuel and other sources; maximize the economic benefits to nuclear utilities and their customers by optimizing total nuclear fuel cycle costs; minimize the overall environmental impact of nuclear fuel cycle activities and the generation of waste that requires conditioning and disposal; and satisfy political and proliferation issues resulting from the need to manage existing stockpiles and future arisings of plutonium. This paper looks at the holistic approach BNFL is taking to ensure the economic and financial optimization of the nuclear fuel cycle as a whole. (author)