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))