The fuel fabrication industry

Fuel fabrication is of great importance to utilities, who rely upon a fuel load to produce electricity over one or more years without any reactor shutdown or intervention. Developments in fuel fabrication are also of concern to uranium mining companies. The demand for uranium is dependent upon parameters such as the burn-up of the fuel and the use of reprocessed uranium and mixed oxide fuels, which in turn are affected by fabrication developments. The fuel fabrication market, manufacturing technology and future consumer requirements are reviewed. (author)