Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT) (방사성폐기물학회지)

Korean Radioactive Waste Society (한국방사성폐기물학회)
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Managing the Back-end of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle: Lessons for New and Emerging Nuclear Power Users From the United States, South Korea and Taiwan

  • Received : 2021.09.06
  • Accepted : 2021.10.19
  • Published : 2021.12.30
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Abstract

This article examines the consequences of a significant spent fuel management decision or event in the United States, South Korea and Taiwan. For the United States, it is the financial impact of the Department of Energy's inability to take possession of spent fuel from commercial nuclear power companies beginning in 1998 as directed by Congress. For South Korea, it is the potential financial and socioeconomic impact of the successful construction, licensing and operation of a low and intermediate level waste disposal facility on the siting of a spent fuel/high level waste repository. For Taiwan, it is the operational impact of the Kuosheng 1 reactor running out of space in its spent fuel pool. From these, it draws six broad lessons other countries new to, or preparing for, nuclear energy production might take from these experiences. These include conservative planning, treating the back-end of the fuel cycle holistically and building trust through a step-by-step approach to waste disposal.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

The author thanks Dr. Tito Bonano, Senior Manager, Nuclear Fuel Cycle & Grid Modernization, Sandia National Laboratories and Dr. Tom Cotton, Vice President, Complex Systems Group for their insights.

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