Nuclear Power Status and Prospects in the USSR

摘要

Power industry is a leading and fast developing branch of the USSR economy. The production of primary fuel resources in the country should increase from the present 2.3 billion tons of reference fuel/year up to 3.2-3.4 billion tons of reference fuel/year by 2000. During this period the electricity production at nuclear power plants is expected to increase at least 5-7 times. Technical and economical advantages of large-scale nuclear power development and the increased role of nuclear power in future energy production in the USSR are based on the following fundamental factors: 1) With the introduction of nuclear breeding technology the fuel resources will become practically unlimited. 2) There are reliable means to solve environmental protection issues at modern nuclear power plants and other nuclear fuel cycle facilities as well as contemplated solutions of radioactive waste disposal problems. 3) Nuclear power plants are economically competitive with fossil-fuel power plants in a number of industrial regions. 5 references, 3 tables. (ERA citation 12:028568)