COMMUNICATION

Recycling military plutonium : a brief note on the situation

Xth Arnaldi Conference Paris, 1997

This short note does not pretend to present again an analysis of this question. It is a sequel of our previous papers. It wants to update the information previously given.

The Denver G8 Summit

Plutonium management was explicity one of the subject dealt with in Denver. Paragraphs 7 to 1 1 of the Foreign Ministers text presents clear declarations on this subject.

Par. 7 welcomes the conclusions of the groups of experts : " our experts concluded that the most timely and technically viable option is the consumption of plutonium as mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel in nuclear reactors, and as a complementary option, the immobilization of plutonium in glass or ceramic mixed with high-level radioactive waste. Par. 8 says that this would " serve the inter¬ national community's non-proliferation objectives ".

In Par. 9, the G8 welcomes the collaboration of France, Germany and Russia (opened to other countries). In Par. 10, they " reiterate the importance of ensuring transparency " and in this

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