Nuclear Fuel Problems in Japan

The nuclear fuel problem is extremely important in Japan, which has scanty resources in the face of a rapidly expanding demand. Imported uranium must be used as effectively as possible. Blending of enriched uranium with depleted uranium (extracted from spent fuel of light water reactors and still possessing a higher 235U concentration than natural uranium) is shown to be economically practical and advisable. Further, the utilization of plutonium and the re-enrichment of depleted uranium should provide large savings in enriched uranium to be imported.