Chair: Mary Neumayr, URENCO
Vice-Chair: Sean Oehlbert, Centrus
Senior Fellow: Michael McMurphy, Orano
Nuclear power has become an increasingly attractive alternative to meet ever-increasing energy needs. Today, nuclear power accounts for about 20% of U.S. power generation and nearly half of its emissions-free generation. The United States and more than 20 other countries have pledged to triple global nuclear capacity by 2050, and President Trump issued an Executive Order to quadruple U.S. capacity by 2050. The stated objective of the EO is to “promote the production and operation of nuclear energy which is necessary to power the next generation technologies that secure our global industrial, digital, and economic dominance, achieve energy independence, and protect our national security.”
Fueling this capacity will require a significant increase in U.S. capacities across the entire front end of the fuel cycle: uranium exploration, mining and milling, conversion, enrichment, deconversion, and fuel fabrication. The challenges are complex in view not only of the capacity needed, but also the varieties of fuel required by advanced reactors.
The mission of the Front-End Working Group is to support the advancement of nuclear energy by (i)informing U.S.NIC members about the fuel supply chain and issues facing the industry, (ii) addressing options for strengthening the U.S. front-end nuclear fuel supply chain; and (iii) supporting establishment of a robust fuel supply chain. Adequate fuel supplies are needed to support the ongoing evolution of Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs) and Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs), and the development and deployment of a new generation of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Advanced Reactors (ARs). This requires uranium production, conversion, fuel fabrication, and for some reactors, deconversion services. The Front-End Working Group will work to identify potential bottlenecks and facilitate U.S. NIC member discussions regarding potential means to strengthen the fuel supply chain. The Front-End Working Group will also support the development of U.S.NIC responses to inquiries from the Administration and Congress.
Ensure that U.S. NIC members understand and appreciate the status of the nuclear fuel supply chain as it pertains to all steps in the fuel cycle front end.
• The scope of the nuclear fuel cycle front end includes uranium exploration, production, mining and milling, conversion, enrichment, fuel fabrication, and deconversion.
• Also within the scope are licensing, security, and transportation of front-end elements.
• Recurring member meetings.
• Informational presentations and discussions of:
• Uranium production, known uranium resources, and projects to develop additional production.
• Uranium conversion capabilities and steps to ensure that conversion is not a pinch-point.
• Uranium enrichment capacities, current and future requirements, what it will take to meet those needs, and efforts underway.
• Requirements for form and quantity of deconversion services, and efforts underway.
• Licensing issues.
• Security and safety issues.
• Transportation challenges.
• Assessment and reporting on the actions of the U.S. government to support development of a robust supply chain.
• Support of financing and market incentives that will underpin fuel supply chain advancement.
• Coordination with other USNIC working groups, especially New Reactors and International and Finance.
• Preparation of U.S. NIC factual and informational responses to the Administration and Congress regarding the front end of the fuel cycle and supply chain issues.
