U.S. Plans to Provide Cold War Plutonium to Private Companies for Nuclear Fuel Production
By
Brad Plumer
4d ago· 1 min readenNews
46/100
Doughy
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Tries hard. Doesn't quite make it out of the oven in one piece.
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Summary
The Trump administration is advancing a plan to provide Cold War-era weapons-grade plutonium from dismantled nuclear warheads to private companies for conversion into nuclear fuel. The Energy Department holds over 50 tons of surplus plutonium and previously planned to dilute it. Proponents argue this is a better disposal method that also addresses nuclear fuel shortages, but nonproliferation experts have raised concerns about making weapons-grade material available to private entities for the first time.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledCompanies say it's a better way to dispose of the Cold War-era material — and fix a shortage of nuclear fuel.
The plan has generated debate and some unease among nonproliferation experts.
If finalized, it would mark the first time the U.S. government has made weapons-grade plutonium available to private companies.
Companies say it’s a better way to dispose of the Cold War-era material — and fix a shortage of nuclear fuel. But the plan has also faced criticism from nonproliferation experts.
