Research Article

Economic Analysis of Different Nuclear Fuel Cycle Options

Table 1

Unit costs for nuclear fuel cycle steps.

Cost itemsUnitsLowNominalHigh

Uranium$/kgU30158354
Conversion$/kgU51215
Enrichment$/SWU*80155180

Reprocessing
 PUREX$/kgHM700800900
 Pyro-UO2$/kgHM5001,5002,500

Fuel fabrication
 UO2 fuel$/kgHM200240300
 MOX fuel$/kgHM2,0003,2004,000
 DUPIC fuel$/kgHM500700900

Pyro. and SFR metal fuel fab.$/kgHM2,5005,0007,500
Long-term storage
 Depleted U$/kgHM2.63.64.6
 Reprocessed U$/kgHM2.63.640.0

Transport and storage
 DUPIC SF$/kgHM50100250
 UO2 SF$/kgHM105125145
 MOX SF$/kgHM145218580
 Decay storage$/kgHM10,00022,50035,000
 HLW$/m380,060120,090200,240

Disposal
 Packaging
  UO2 SF$/kg100200350
  DUPIC SF$/kg80150250
  MOX SF$/kg200400700
  HLW of PUREX$/m3100,000200,000400,000
  HLW of others$/m3100,000200,000400,000
 Underground cost$/m36001,2002,000

*SWU stands for separative work unit.