Prospects for US International Collaboration in Preparing for the Nuclear Renaissance
Harold McFarlane and Richard Stout Representing the Fuel Cycle and Waste Management Division of the American Nuclear Society
		Harold McFarlane				Richard Stout

After more than two decades of being barred by official policy, there is renewed US interest in the potential benefits of nuclear fuel recycling. For the near term that interest likely will be limited to investigation of transmutation science and developing alternative reprocessing technologies that may have superior proliferation-resistance features. The American Nuclear Society issued the following position statement in November 2001:

“The US research and development policy should recognize the widely held view that the long-term sustainability of nuclear power will depend on utilizing more fully the vast potential energy resources in uranium and thorium.”

Research notwithstanding, the prevailing view in the US is that the nuclear renaissance will be led by the existing nuclear industry. During the past decade, gains made in operating efficiency and profitability have resulted in an active market for installed plants. Most US nuclear plants are expected to have their operating licenses extended for an additional 20 years. This year the government announced its intention to proceed with the development of Yucca Mountain as a national geologic repository—a huge boost to the prospects of the nuclear industry. The US will focus on establishing a favorable business climate for construction of new plants based on evolutionary technology improvements and continuation of the once-through fuel cycle.

The US has a long history of international collaboration in the development of nuclear technology dating back to the “Atoms for Peace” initiative of the 1950’s. This tradition was briefly interrupted in the mid-1990’s when a short-lived decision terminated nuclear fission research except for some technology development needed for nuclear waste management. Recently, international collaboration has been reestablished through the Generation-IV International Forum and International Nuclear Energy Research Initiative. US nuclear researchers welcome the prospect of reinitiating collaborative research on advance nuclear systems and fuel cycles.

The views expressed in this presentation are those of US nuclear professionals. They should not be construed as representing any official US policy or position.