This book provides a readable and thought-provoking analysis of the
issues surrounding nuclear fuel reprocessing and fast-neutron
reactors, including discussion of resources, economics,
radiological risk and resistance to nuclear proliferation. It
describes the history and science behind reprocessing, and gives an
overview of the status of reprocessing programmes around the world.
It concludes that such programs should be discontinued. While
nuclear power is seen by many as the only realistic solution to the
carbon emission problem, some national nuclear establishments have
been pursuing development and deployment of sodium-cooled plutonium
breeder reactors, and plutonium recycling. Its proponents argue
that this system would offer significant advantages relative to
current light water reactor technology in terms of greater uranium
utilization efficiency, and that separating out the long-lived
plutonium and other transuranics from spent fuel and fissioning
them in fast reactors would greatly reduce the duration of the
toxicity of radioactive waste. However, the history of efforts to
deploy this system commercially in a number of countries over the
last six decades has been one of economic and technical failure
and, in some cases, was used to mask clandestine nuclear weapon
development programs. Covering topics of significant public
interest including nuclear safety, fuel storage, environmental
impact and the spectre of nuclear terrorism, this book presents a
comprehensive analysis of the issue for nuclear engineers, policy
analysts, government officials and the general public. "Frank von
Hippel, Jungmin Kang, and Masafumi Takubo, three internationally
renowned nuclear experts, have done a valuable service to the
global community in putting together this book, which both
historically and comprehensively covers the "plutonium age" as we
know it today. They articulate in a succinct and clear manner their
views on the dangers of a plutonium economy and advocate a ban on
the separation of plutonium for use in the civilian fuel cycle in
view of the high proliferation and nuclear-security risks and lack
of economic justification." (Mohamed ElBaradei, Director General,
International Atomic Energy Agency (1997-2009), Nobel Peace Prize
(2005)) "The 1960s dream of a 'plutonium economy' has not delivered
abundant low-cost energy, but instead has left the world a
radioactive legacy of nuclear weapons proliferation and the real
potential for nuclear terrorism. Kang, Takubo, and von Hippel
explain with power and clarity what can be done to reduce these
dangers. The governments of the remaining countries whose nuclear
research and development establishments are still pursuing the
plutonium dream should pay attention." (Senator Edward Markey, a
leader in the US nuclear-disarmament movement as a member of
Congress since 1976) "The authors have done an invaluable service
by putting together in one place the most coherent analysis of the
risks associated with plutonium, and the most compelling argument
for ending the practice of separating plutonium from spent fuel for
any purpose. They have given us an easily accessible history of the
evolution of thinking about the nuclear fuel cycle, the current
realities of nuclear power around the world and, arguably most
important, a clear alternative path to deal with the spent fuel
arising from nuclear reactors for decades to centuries to come."
(Robert Gallucci, Chief US negotiator with North Korea (1994);
Dean, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service (1996-2009);
President, MacArthur Foundation (2009-2014))
General
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