Largest global processing plants for spent nuclear fuel recycling by capacity 2020
The largest site reprocessing spent nuclear fuel worldwide in 2020 was the plant of La Hague, situated in France and managed by Orano Group. It had an annual capacity of 1,700 metric tons. Another large reprocessing site was Sellafield plant in the United Kingdom (UK), with a capacity of 1,500 metric tons per year. Only six other reprocessing plants existed in the world, of which one was in Japan, one in Russia, and four in India.
During the recycling process of spent nuclear fuel, the fission products, which are radioactive and non-recyclable, are separated from re-usable uranium and plutonium. The fission products are only four percent of the total volume of spent nuclear fuel, and represent the nuclear waste, which is stored long-term until it loses its radioactivity.
During the recycling process of spent nuclear fuel, the fission products, which are radioactive and non-recyclable, are separated from re-usable uranium and plutonium. The fission products are only four percent of the total volume of spent nuclear fuel, and represent the nuclear waste, which is stored long-term until it loses its radioactivity.
