[ RadSafe ] Storage of spent fuel

[Ivor Surveyor]

The following message was posted on an Australian site
<http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=45>

There is currently an active debate in Australia 
on the question of nuclear energy.

I wonder if those with specialist knowledge could 
comment on the background to the message as it 
relates to the US and /or UK. please?
 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

"Nuclear spent fuel in the USA languishes in over 
70 stirred ponds awaiting a decision as to what 
to do with it finally. Recent arrivals have to be 
carefully placed so as not to be adjacent to the 
previous arrivals to avoid neutron exchange. Some 
of the longer term resident fuel elements are put 
in dry containers, adequately spaced internally 
so as to avoid interaction. The ponds have to be 
constantly stirred and cooled, so if they lose 
their electricity supply for a protracted period, 
the spent fuel elements might melt down and catch 
fire, contaminating the internal space inside the 
containment shield or the surrounding area if 
they are outside. It would be possible to send 
the dry containers to Australia in return for the 
earned revenue from past uranium exports.

The procrastination experienced in finding a 
final solution is to be deprecated. In the UK's 
Sellafield the external ponds are full of sludge 
and guano from seagulls and poor records mean 
that the exact contents are unknown. Tenders are 
out to private contractors invited to quote to 
clear up the mess. The first tranche of 
taxpayers' money to clean up the closed Magnox 
and research stations and the processing plant at 
Sellafield totals £70 billion. The sums needed to 
clean up the working reactors at the end of their 
lives is yet to be calculated, but the total bill 
exceeds the revenue from the generated electricity by a factor of 3 or 4.

Are the Australians really wanting to join the nuclear generation club?

Posted by John Busby, Saturday, 27 May 2006 2:44:57 AM"

Ivor Surveyor
[ isurveyor at vianet.net.au ]