Lipsa unui material radioactiv „rar precum diamantele” amenință noile proiecte nucleare. „Nu există o piață a plutoniului”

A shortage of plutonium may hinder new nuclear projects as startups struggle to secure this radioactive material due to limited civilian reserves. Plutonium, a byproduct of uranium fuel, is essential for some next-generation reactors. The global deficit in nuclear fuel reprocessing facilities complicates the situation, with significant investments and time required to develop new ones. Countries like France are modernizing existing facilities, while others, including the UK and the US, face challenges in making plutonium available for energy production. The current global stock of separated plutonium is largely inaccessible, raising concerns about the future of nuclear energy projects.