Aerospace Pu Report Publicly Released, Finds Downblending Cheaper than MOX

As expected, an independent report on surplus plutonium disposition options released publicly Friday has found that downblending the material and disposing of it in a repository would cost a fraction of turning it into Mixed Oxide fuel for use in reactors. Downblending would cost about $17.2 billion over the life of the project, while the total life cycle cost for the MOX option stands at $47.5 billion if the project is funded at $500 million per year, according to the report by Aerospace Corp. That includes the more than $4 billion already spent on the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility, as well as completing construction of the plant, operating it and related disposal costs. However, if the project is funded at $375 million per year, close to current levels, the total cost jumps to about $110 billion and the completion date stretches 100 years into the future to 2115, the report states.

 

The report was performed by Aerospace Corp. after Congress directed the National Nuclear Security Administration to commission an independent report examining plutonium disposition options under an agreement with Russia after the Administration moved to shut down the MOX project.  Details of the report emerged last month, and its findings have been disputed by project contractor CB&I AREVA MOX Services and members of South Carolina’s Congressional delegation. Questions also remain on how the downblending option would impact the agreement with Russia, which specifies  disposal in MOX fuel.