The Future of Advanced Nuclear Technologies Interdisciplinary Research Team Summaries (2014) / Chapter Skim
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IDR Team Summary 6: How might the widespread use of civilian nuclear power and associated fuel cycle facilities be made compatible with a world free of (or with a small number of) nuclear weapons?
IDR Team Summary 6: How might the widespread use of civilian nuclear power and associated fuel cycle facilities be made compatible with a world free of (or with a small number of) nuclear weapons?
Pages 71-82
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From page 71... ...
CHALLENGE SUMMARY In 2007, four distinguished American statesmen (George Schultz, Henry Kissinger, William Perry, and Sam Nunn) wrote of their support of "a world free of nuclear weapons." One year later, presidential candidate Barak Obama embraced this vision and, the year after that, President Obama expressed "America's commitment to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons." Advocates of the abolition of nuclear weapons believe that it would make the world safer and more stable.
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From page 72... ...
Key Questions • How might the civilian nuclear enterprise be modified to minimize the risk of diversion of technology and materials to the production of nuclear weapons? • How might the civilian nuclear enterprise be modified to maximize the time required to produce nuclear weapons using diverted technologies or materials?
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From page 73... ...
This stark reality is due in part because as weapons programs develop around the world, nuclear fuel cycle technology continues to spread. Nuclear power provides a cost-effective, low-carbon form of electricity compared with many fossil fuels, and is therefore a leading weapon in the battle against rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
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From page 74... ...
, a multinational body that controls certain trade and transfer of nuclear material, the new model might include multiple "Nuclear Buyers Groups" that manage regional energy commerce. The idea being that these alliances could become competitive enough to make state-owned fuel cycle facilities obsolete, while also providing diversity in a sociopolitical context to facilitate interactions with all countries, including non-weapons states.
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From page 75... ...
For example, technology with built-in systems that automatically monitor and record operation, status, and security could increase confidence in the security of energy systems. Additional benefits could come from alternative fuels and novel detection technologies that could readily identify any covert activity concerning processing of highly enriched uranium.
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From page 76... ...
Extrapolate that attitude toward the possession of weapons, and it might further discourage non-nuclear weapons states' desire for nuclear weapons and possibly motivate a reduction in nuclear warhead stockpiles by nuclear weapons states. Another approach to discouraging non-nuclear weapons states' selfasserted need for independent state-owned fuel cycle capabilities would be sharing liability and control of nuclear material across multiple nations.
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From page 77... ...
Slocum, Massachusetts Institute of Technology IDR TEAM SUMMARY -- GROUP 6B Jyoti Madhusoodanan, NAKFI Science Writing Scholar University of California, Santa Cruz IDR Team 6B was asked to identify ways the widespread use of civilian nuclear power might be made compatible with a world free of, or with a small number of, nuclear weapons. The team agreed at the outset that the present challenge was not framed accurately.
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From page 78... ...
Technologies to Minimize Misuse of Nuclear Technology Enriched uranium is the most commonly used nuclear fuel in lightwater reactors today; spent fuel from such reactors contains plutonium, another fuel obtained by reprocessing this material. Both materials are easily diverted or exploited for use in weapons rather than power production.
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From page 79... ...
Safer, proliferation-resistant reactor designs and fuel cycles IDR Team 6B began by identifying what makes one fuel cycle superior to another with respect to facilitating widespread nuclear power, but few or no nuclear weapons. Factors such as cost, ease of production, and compatibility with global deployment were considered most crucial, since a fuel cycle that failed to meet these criteria would be unsuitable for widespread power production.
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From page 80... ...
Despite their noncooperation, such a country can then use civilian nuclear resources to develop weapons. Improving Detection Technologies IDR Team 6B proposed improving available technologies to track fuel cycle resources so they are less easily diverted or exploited.
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From page 81... ...
Next Steps IDR Team 6B recognized that establishing a "Global Zero Treaty" does not hinge upon civilian applications of the nuclear fuel cycle. A significant shift in international treaties may be the only way to reduce or prevent overt diversion of physical resources or exploitation of fuel cycle knowledge to military applications.
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