Submission + - Study: HALEU nuclear fuel could be used for bombs
locater16 writes: High Assay Low Enriched Uranium, a popular fuel for newer "small scale" nuclear reactors that have been much hyped as a safe alternative power source and part of a solution to climate change has been subsidized by US Government programs. However a new study has found that this uranium could be turned into nuclear weapons:
From the paper: HALEU contains between 10 and 20% of the isotope uranium-235. At 20% 235U and above, the isotopic mixture is called highly enriched uranium (HEU) and is internationally recognized as being directly usable in nuclear weapons. However, the practical limit for weapons lies below the 20% HALEU-HEU threshold.
The paper recommends an immediate security review of all government programs and export controls for HALEU.
From the paper: HALEU contains between 10 and 20% of the isotope uranium-235. At 20% 235U and above, the isotopic mixture is called highly enriched uranium (HEU) and is internationally recognized as being directly usable in nuclear weapons. However, the practical limit for weapons lies below the 20% HALEU-HEU threshold.
The paper recommends an immediate security review of all government programs and export controls for HALEU.
