Nuclear Fuel Cycle: Debates on Multilateral Approaches

Session: Grand Ballroom 1
Date/Time: February 19, 2013 / 15:30-16:45

Moderator: Corey Hinderstein, Nuclear Threat Initiative

Speakers:

Tom Coppen, Utrecht University
Caroline Jorant, SDRI Consulting
Kang Jungmin, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
William Tobey, Harvard University

Rapporteur: Tristan Volpe, George Washington University

Press Release Brief

1. If non-nuclear-weapon states try to develop domestic capabilities in uranium enrichment and reprocessing, it would increase proliferation risks from those nuclear fuel cycle activities, as done by Japan and Iran.

2. This is why multilateral approaches in nuclear fuel cycle activities are strongly recommended to those countries, not only to succeed their nuclear power projects, but also to resolve concerns about nuclear proliferation.

3. The key goal of multilateral approaches to nuclear fuel cycle technology is to prevent the spread of sensitive proliferation risk technology while ensuring that all states have access to the benefits of peaceful nuclear energy.

4. The key weakness with multilateral and multinational approaches is that they apply a market-based solution to political problems.

5. However, stopping the spread of nuclear fuel cycle technology is far more important than how this technology is managed.