POLÍTICA NUCLEAR
partlcIpate in
lNFCE.
It has become a unique undertaking to which
the participating states make major contributions in manpower and
research efforts. Most of the actual work of compiling, developing
and analysing data takes place in a structure of 8 working groups.
NI?
1 deals with fuel and heavy water availability;
NQ
2 with en–
richment availability;
NQ
3 with assurances of long-term supply;
NI?
4 with reprQcessing and plutonium handling;
NI?
5 with fast
breeders; N9 6 with spent fuel management;
NQ
7 with waste man–
agement and disposal;
NI?
8 with advanced fuel cycle and reactor
concepts.
INFCE
is an autonomous undertaking and does not form part
oi
the
lAEA
programme, and is not in any way under our direction.
The Agency is a participant in this study and provides administra–
tive services {or most of the numerous meetings which take place
under the programme. It has some spedal tasks such as providing
the calculational services {or different working groups and giving
information about the Agency's safeguards.
INFCE
is expected to complete it's work by the end of next year.
Without in any way prejudging the results of the study, it is reason–
able to assume that
INFCE
will provide a mass of useful information
and a discussion of new concepts which might give new insights in–
to the problems which face uso To take one of the many aspects,
it is quite clear that the problems of management of growing
quantities both of spent fuel and of separated plutonium during
the next few decades will call for an increasingly close internatio–
nal cooperation, and these questions will form part of
INFCE'S
deli–
berations. In parallel, proposals developed in conformity with the
Agency's statute will be discussed by other bodies. AIso, the mecho
anisms and the conditions under which intemational assurances for
supply in the event of interruption will be discussed in
lNFCE.
It
must however, be recognized that
INFCE
is inherently technical in
nature. It is not a negotiating mechanism to establish new inter–
national structures, but it may give useful ideas for further actions
on the international scene. The real significance of
lNiFCE
should
be seen in the perspective of the last few years' developments. Dur–
ing recent years, supplier countries have placed increasing constra–
ints on the supplies of fuel, equipment and on transfer of nuclear
technology. One major change which has occurred is documented
