Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) control rod assembly.

Nuclear Fuel/Uranium

NUCLEAR POWER IS NOT ONLY COMMERCIAL NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS!

Nuclear power is divided into 3 basic operational areas.

All take enormous amounts of outside energy, almost entirely supplied by fossil fuels.

Read more: Uranium Fuel Cycle Explained

1. The Front End – How a nuclear plant gets its fuel.

2. Reactor Operation – Constructing reactors; infrastructure; workers; equipment; and more.

3. The Back End – Isolating radioactive waste now and for millennia.

See the Ohio Nuclear Free Network’s two information sheets on:

THE FRONT END OF NUCLEAR POWER
HOW NUCLEAR POWER GETS ITS FUEL

Mining, milling and refining creates wastes that have serious health and clean up challenges.

Uranium: Mining, Milling and Refining

Around the world, uranium is mined on the lands of indigenous and low-wealth people who bear the health consequences. Mill waste is enormous. Mines by the thousands are abandoned without clean up. Mill tailings piles and tailing ponds present serious health risks and clean up challenges. Now mills are being allowed to extract uranium from radioactive waste.

See the ONFN Front-End Flier #1: URANIUM: MINING, MILLING AND REFINING

The aging Honeywell Uranium Conversion facility on the Ohio River in Metropolis, IL.

Uranium: Enrichment and Fuel Fabrication

A stunning number of industries (fueled by oil and gas) are involved in the production of nuclear fuel. Oil and gas are also used as these industries transport their wares across the nation.

Radioactive and chemical contamination is inevitable throughout these processes.

Uranium enrichment technology is used for both nuclear power and weapons (but is budgeted as civilian).

Enrichment technology has been stolen, sold, and given to countries who now have nuclear weapons.

See the ONFN Front End Flier #2: URANIUM ENRICHMENT, NUCLEAR FUEL FABRICATION, AND MORE.