HC Deb 22 November 1976 vol 919 cc827-8W
Mr. Forman

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the feasibility of recovering the energy value from used nuclear fuel without separating out the plutonium is currently being investigated in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Benn

No. There have been proposals for a fuel cycle which would involve recycling irradiated fuel from water-cooled enriched uranium reactors into natural uranium reactors without reprocessing. I am advised, however, that the economic, technical and safety problems inherent in such a cycle indicate that it would be impracticable for industrial operation.

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