THORIUM-BASED FUEL CYCLES EXPLAINED FOR SAFEGUARDS PRACTITIONERS

This paper explains thorium-based fuel cycles for safeguards practitioners who may not be fuel cycle experts. It dispels the myths about there being a single “thorium fuel cycle” and the so-called “proliferation resistance” of this fuel cycle. The paper also explains thorium fuel deployment beyond Molten Salt Reactors and test reactors, and explains the deployment in commercial Light Water Reactors. Oak Ridge National Laboratory has a long-established Thorium Program, Uranium-233 Preservation Program, and fuel cycle expertise which provide a basis for educating the community on thorium.