Reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel in India: Present challenges and future programme

Adoption of the closed nuclear fuel cycle is an imperative option for the Indian nuclear power programme in view of the limited resources of natural uranium and abundance of thorium. The issues associated with the long-term radiotoxicity of spent fuel can also be addressed in the closed fuel cycle with this option. The present paper focusses on the scientific and technological challenges associated with reprocessing of spent fuel from both the thermal and fast reactors. The experience gained in the operation of reprocessing plants in the separation of spent fuel of thermal reactors into uranium, plutonium and high level waste is described in this paper. Challenges resolved during the reprocessing of spent mixed carbide fuel from Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) in CORAL plant are described in detail. This experience enabled the design of a commercial scale reprocessing plant which is under construction to handle the spent fuel from 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR). Recent developments in the separation of minor actinides from high level waste is also briefly discussed. The experience gained in the thorium fuel cycle with the reprocessing of spent thorium fuel is also covered.