Critical evaluation of diversion scenarios of spent-fuel geologic repositories

Final disposal of spent-fuel forms is an alternative to reprocessing, which has long been considered a preferred way to handle spent fuel. Even those countries that previously made a firm choice in favor of reprocessing, now consider direct disposal as a valuable option that is being investigated in more detail. A crucial aspect in this context is that of the nonproliferation of the stored materials and their misuse for the manufacture of nuclear weapons. Repositories will certainly put a considerable workload on the inspectorates, and safeguards is to be considered one of the main costs in the long term.