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Appendix H — Current multilateralisation proposals

The 12 fuel cycle multilateralisation proposals are summarised in the table below, which identifies to which of the five multilateral nuclear approaches (MNAs), proposed by the International Atomic Energy Agency’s international Expert Group, each of the concepts broadly corresponds.

 

Proposal
(proposing government or NGO)

MNA Approach

Fundamental Mechanism and
Conditions

1

Reserve of Nuclear Fuel (US)

2

Fuel assurances (fuel reserve)

For states that forego enrichment and reprocessing

2

Global Nuclear Power Infrastructure (Russia)

(3)

Create system of international centres providing nuclear fuel cycle services

IUEC Angarsk (below) as an example

3

Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (US)

(1)

Fuel supply, possibly spent fuel take-back

Existing supplier states provide services for recipient states

4

Ensuring Security of Supply (World Nuclear Association)

2

Fuel assurances (enrichment services, fuel reserve)

5

Reliable Access to Nuclear Fuel (Six Country Proposal)

2

Fuel assurances (enrichment services)

6

IAEA Standby Arrangements (Japan)

2

Fuel assurances provided by existing supplies

Reduce incentives for additional states to develop national capabilities

7

IAEA Nuclear Fuel Reserve (Nuclear Threat Initiative)

2

Fuel assurances (fuel reserve for at least one full core, under IAEA auspices)

8

Enrichment Bonds (UK)

2

Fuel assurances (enrichment services)

9

International Uranium Enrichment Centre (Russia)

(3)

Share in multinational enrichment plant (in Russia, no technology transfer)

Oriented chiefly to states not developing indigenous capabilities

10

Multilateral Enrichment Sanctuary Project (Germany)

4

Establish multilateral extraterritorial enrichment plant

States retain right to establish fuel cycle facilities under national control

11

Multilateralisation of the Fuel Cycle (Austria)

(5)

Establish a new authority to ensure ‘fair’ distribution of nuclear fuels

Eventually all facilities multinational and operated through this authority

12

Nuclear Fuel Cycle (EU)

n/a

Criteria to evaluate multilateral arrangements and fuel assurances

Not meant to ‘impinge on national choices and arrangements’

Source        A Glaser, ‘Internationalization of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle’, Research paper commissioned by the ICNND, February 2009, p. 20, viewed 31 August 2009, <http://www.icnnd.org/latest/research/index.html>.

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