Russia to Launch Closed-Cycle Nuclear Power by 2030

Chudakov told Sputnik: “This is a completely closed fuel cycle because we do not use uranium-238 in traditional reactors, namely thermal reactors. Here, ‘uranium-238’ is converted into ‘plutonium-239’, and fast reactors produce more plutonium than is consumed.” Russian President Vladimir Putin announced yesterday, Thursday, during the International Forum of Nuclear Week in Moscow, that by 2030, Russia will launch the world’s first closed-cycle nuclear power system in the Tomsk region. Putin added that this development is considered a qualitative leap for Russian scientists and engineers, as almost the entire amount of consumed nuclear fuel will be reused in reactors. The Russian president asserted that this mechanism will ultimately solve the problem of radioactive waste accumulation almost completely, and most importantly, solve the problem of uranium availability. The Russian president added in his speech that “uranium resources are expected to be exhausted by 2090, but this may happen sooner. By 2030, the world’s first nuclear power system with a closed fuel cycle will be launched in Tomsk, resolving this issue.”