Depleted uranium

Uranium is a mineral that is naturally slightly radioactive. Natural uranium consists largely of uranium particles that are not fissionable; only a small part that is fissionable and therefore suitable for generating electricity in a nuclear power plant. By centrifuging the natural uranium at high speed, we increase the number of fissile particles in the uranium. We call this enrichment and it happens at the company Urenco in Almelo. This also creates a flow of depleted uranium. The stream of enriched uranium goes to the nuclear power plant to generate electricity. Urenco’s depleted uranium ultimately goes to COVRA to be stored there.

At a certain point, it is no longer economically attractive to further centrifuge the uranium because the proportion of fissile particles has become too low. Urenco then offers the residual flow (the depleted uranium) to COVRA for storage.

The uranium stored at COVRA is not conditioned so that possible future reuse is possible. In theory, the uranium can be reused. It does take a relatively large amount of effort and time to further concentrate the fissile uranium that is still contained therein (by centrifugation) so that it is suitable for use as fuel in a nuclear power plant. Another option is that the depleted uranium may be used in the future in so-called fast reactors (without first centrifuging it).

Viewing tip: The video ‘Can nuclear energy be done without waste’ has appeared on the YouTube channel ‘Universiteit van Nederland’ (University of the Netherlands), on which ‘the best scientists in the Netherlands’ give a free mini-lecture. Energy ethicist Behnam Taebi from TU Delft explains in this video how radioactive waste can be reused as a source of energy. The video is less than 5 minutes long. Watch it at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBwTB4hrvY4.

Certainly not in the coming centuries: large quantities of natural uranium can still be extracted in easily accessible mines. And there is still uranium present in deeper places. In addition, uranium is naturally abundant in seawater. Used fuel elements are also recycled, so that uranium can be reused. See also ‘What does COVRA do with the high-level radioactive waste?‘ See: https://www.covra.nl/en/veelgestelde-vragen/processing/.