Question:

A few years ago, we were told that nuclear energy had a future only if fast breeder reactors were developed. If China and other countries continue to develop nuclear power stations, the current uranium reserves will be quickly depleted…

Answer:

It is true that after the oil shocks of 1973 and 1979 the industrialized nations feared an energy shortage and that, with the prospect of significant development of nuclear energy, uranium reserves appeared to be relatively limited. By enabling these reserves to be multiplied by a factor of 50 to 100 – by using all uranium isotopes – the fast neutron reactor (breeder reactor) appeared to have a bright future. But when crude oil then fell back to its initial price level and the pessimistic forecasts based on crude oil resources in 2000 did not materialize, fast breeder reactors lost their attraction. The cost associated with operations that were more complex than originally foreseen, the risks associated with the use of liquid sodium for cooling and, above all, the pressure of environmentalist movements prompted the French government’s decision, in September 1997, to dismantle the "Superphénix" prototype, even though it had already reached the industrial phase by generating electricity for the grid. Regarding uranium reserves, see the response to the left.