Global spent nuclear fuel inventory reaches 448,000 tonnes: IAEA
Nuclear power reactors worldwide have generated an estimated 448,000 tonnes of spent nuclear fuel (SNF), according to a new interactive inventory tool launched by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The tool provides a consolidated view of global spent fuel inventories based on data reported by countries under the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management.
Of the total inventory, around 322,000 tonnes remain in storage, while about 126,000 tonnes have been reprocessed for potential reuse in nuclear fuel production. The IAEA said the tool replaces fragmented estimates with a standardized dataset and allows users to explore spent fuel inventories by country, region and storage method.
The inventory shows that 41% of global spent fuel is stored in wet storage systems, mainly cooling pools, while 31% is stored in dry storage facilities such as casks and storage buildings. The agency noted that many countries have gradually shifted older fuel from wet to dry storage over recent decades.
The tool comes as several countries expand nuclear power capacity and explore long-term solutions for spent fuel management. Finland is preparing to commission what is expected to be the world’s first deep geological repository for spent nuclear fuel.
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