Supplying enriched uranium

Abstract

Among the problems that must be solved before nuclear power can finally become a mature industry providing a major fraction of the nation's electric power, perhaps the least publicized is the problem of making sure there will be enough enriched uranium to fuel the rapidly growing numbers of nuclear power plants. Currently there are 29 nuclear plants generating 15 000 megawatts, or less than 5% of the nation's total capacity; by 1990, the AEC predicts that the nuclear plant capacity will have grown by more than a factor of 40 and will be roughly half of the total national capacity. Unfortunately, no plans have been made for a parallel expansion in the country's uranium‐enrichment facilities that must supply the fuel for all these new plants.