Oecd Nuclear Energy Agency

The "Red Book", jointly prepared by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency and the International Atomic Energy Agency, is a recognised world reference source on the uranium industry. This publication collates and analyses key information drawn from the twenty editions of the Red Book published between 1965 and 2004, in order to set out a comprehensive review of developments in the world uranium industry from the birth of civilian nuclear energy through to the beginning of the 21st century. It summarises developments in the major uranium-producing countries and topics covered include: installed nuclear capacity, reactor-related uranium requirements, market price, exploration, resources, production, natural and enriched uranium inventories, thorium, mine start-up and closure histories, environmental aspects of uranium mining and processing.

On cover and title page: Nuclear development

In the wake of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident, questions are being raised about the future of the uranium market, including as regards the number of reactors expected to be built in the coming years, the amount of uranium required to meet forward demand, the adequacy of identified uranium resources to meet that demand and the ability of the sector to meet reactor requirements in a challenging investment climate. This 24th edition of the "Red Book", a recognised world reference on uranium jointly prepared by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency and the International Atomic Energy Agency, provides analyses and information from 42 producing and consuming countries in order to address these and other questions. It offers a comprehensive review of world uranium supply and demand as well as data on global uranium exploration, resources, production and reactor-related requirements. It also provides substantive new information on established uranium production centres around the world and in countries developing production centres for the first time. Projections of nuclear generating capacity and reactor-related requirements through 2035, incorporating policy changes following the Fukushima accident, are also featured, along with an analysis of long-term uranium supply and demand issues

While refurbishments for the long-term operation of nuclear power plants and for the lifetime extension of such plants have been widely pursued in recent years, the number of plants to be decommissioned is nonetheless expected to increase in future, particularly in the United States and Europe. It is thus important to understand the costs of decommissioning so as to develop coherent and cost-effective strategies, realistic cost estimates based on decommissioning plans from the outset of operations and mechanisms to ensure that future decommissioning expenses can be adequately covered. This study presents the results of an NEA review of the costs of decommissioning nuclear power plants and of overall funding practices adopted across NEA member countries. The study is based on the results of this NEA questionnaire, on actual decommissioning costs or estimates, and on plans for the establishment and management of decommissioning funds. Case studies are included to provide insight into decommissioning practices in a number of countries.

This report reviews the progress to date in geological disposal of radioactive waste and the further steps that may be required to implement geologic disposal, taking into account both the technical and regulatory requirements, and the need to achieve an appropriate level of societal acceptance.

This comprehensive overview explores the policy issues and other factors affecting the future of nuclear power in OECD countries. It provides a wealth of historical and current information of interest to both energy industry professionals and policy makers. Nuclear power has grown steadily since the early 1960s. Today it provides one quarter of OECD electricity supply from 300 GWe capacity. It is an important contributor to OECD energy security. Existing nuclear plants appear ready to meet the challenges of electricity market competition. The industry has experienced sustained improvements in technical and economic performance. A major advantage of nuclear power is that it produces none of the airborne pollutants or carbon dioxide that fossil-fuelled plants do. Nonetheless, nuclear power must cope with many challenges. New nuclear plants face formidable competition from fossil fuel generation, given nuclear power s high capital cost and today s fossil fuel prices. Almost half of OECD countries have placed restrictions on building nuclear power plants. Disposal facilities for high-level wastes are under development, but face technical and political hurdles before they can become operational. Can nuclear power meet these challenges and thrive in future energy markets? Or will its contribution to energy supply ebb in coming years? This book provides a critical assessment of the issues that will shape the answers to these questions.

Europe's Nuclear Power Experiment: History of the OECD Dragon Project discusses the achievements of the Project, which is regarded as one of Europe's most successful collaborations in applied science and certainly the most important multinational technical collaboration in the field of nuclear energy. The Project is centered on the construction of a nuclear reactor that is to demonstrate the essential properties of a new system, designed to produce higher temperatures than could be achieved with the first generation of reactors. After a brief introduction to the political collaboration and technical development of the Project, this 28-chapter goes on dealing with the competitive forms of cooperation in nuclear energy and the function of the European Nuclear Energy Agency. The succeeding chapters survey various aspects of nuclear reactor and the Dragon Project Agreement, its long-term role, research and development, industrialization, and supervision by the signatories. Other chapters consider other details and contributions of various member countries in the Project. The concluding chapters discuss the Project's extension program and its achievements. This book is of value to nuclear power scientists and researchers.