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August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
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Front-end nuclear fuel supply cooperation: Turning allied interdependence into strategic advantage
The global nuclear revival, which is fueled by unprecedented demand for firm, affordable, dispatchable power for artificial intelligence and data center build-out, energy security imperatives, and climate commitments, has exposed a structural reality of the Western fuel cycle: No single allied nation currently possesses the full suite of front-end capabilities. From mining through conversion, enrichment, fabrication, and the emerging deconversion and metallization steps required for reactor fuels, capability is distributed across Canada, France, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States (collectively, the “Sapporo Five”), as well as a small group of close partners.
H. F. Jelinek, G. M. Iverson
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 12 | Number 3 | March 1962 | Pages 405-411
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE62-A28091
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Precision injection casting is a method developed at Argonne National Laboratory to produce semifinished fuel pins. It has been adapted to the remote refabrication of EBR-II fuel. Inert gas pressure is used to force molten fuel alloy into thoria-coated, precision-bore, high silica glass molds. During EBR-II, Core I production, 16,000 fuel castings were produced in batches of 120 using an experimental injection casting furnace. The specified weight, diametral tolerance, surface finish and internal soundness specifications were successfully met. Remote controlled equipment was designed from experience gained during Core I production.