Closing the nuclear fuel cycle: the impact of indecision

The supply-demand reprocessing capacity problem caused by failure to close the ''back end'' of the fuel cycle is discussed. An economic study was conducted by Allied-General of the effects of ''throwaway'' fuel cycle; results show that the reprocessing alternative with U and Pu recycle is clearly superior economically to the ''throwaway'' alternative, with a net benefit of $10 million per year per reactor. Obstacles to private enterprise in reprocessing and recycle are next considered, and some possible solutions to delays in closing the ''back end'' of the fuel cycle are discussed