Forecast plants capacity for spent nuclear fuel recycling in NEA/OECD area 2020-2040

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. The UK accounted for a total capacity of 2,100 metric tons that year. Russia was the only other country in the world recycling spent nuclear fuel. Its capacity was forecast to increase reaching 1,200 metric tons in 2040.
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.