Forecast plants capacity for spent nuclear fuel recycling in NEA/OECD area 2020-2040

The largest site reprocessing spent nuclear fuel worldwide in 2020 was the plant of La Hague, situated in France and managed by Orano Group. It had an annual capacity of 1,700 metric tons. Another large reprocessing site was Sellafield plant in the United Kingdom (UK), with a capacity of 1,500 metric tons per year. The UK accounted for a total capacity of 2,100 metric tons that year. Russia was the only other country in the world recycling spent nuclear fuel. Its capacity was forecast to increase reaching 1,200 metric tons in 2040. During the recycling process of spent nuclear fuel, the fission products, which are radioactive and non-recyclable, are separated from re-usable uranium and plutonium. The fission products are only four percent of the total volume of spent nuclear fuel, and represent the nuclear waste, which is stored long-term until it loses its radioactivity.

2020年全球最大的核燃料再处理站点为法国拉海格核设施，由欧罗诺集团管理。该设施年处理能力为1,700公吨。另一大型再处理站点为位于英国的塞尔菲尔德核设施，年处理能力为1,500公吨。当年，英国的总处理能力达到2,100公吨。俄罗斯是全球唯一回收使用过核燃料的国家。其处理能力预计将在2040年增至1,200公吨。在核燃料回收过程中，放射性且不可回收的裂变产物会被从可再利用的铀和钚中分离出来。裂变产物仅占使用过核燃料总量的四分之一，构成了需要长期储存直至其放射性衰减的核废料。