Nuclear expert criticizes China's breakthrough

China has not been able to apply a technology to recycle nuclear fuel that has been used on a large scale, a senior expert from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said yesterday.

A fast regeneration reactor is under construction in India. China has a furnace
The first rapid regeneration reaction last year.(Photo: topnews.in)

In early January, the China National Atomic Group announced that it had just achieved a " breakthrough achievement " in nuclear fuel recycling technology, increasing the time spent on explored uranium to 60. times, equivalent to 3,000 years.

Experts say that some other countries already own technology to recycle nuclear fuel, but they are not sure if China can recycle fuel on a large scale, AFP reported.

' To recycle used nuclear fuel, China needs to build a huge factory. To increase recycling efficiency, people need a lot of fast regeneration reactors, while China has just built its first rapid regeneration response last year, 'said Gary Dyck, head of the Fuel and Recycling division Nuclear of the International Atomic Energy Agency, commented.

Dyck said, China announced the nuclear breakthrough achievement on national television two weeks ago, but only provided some preliminary information about the technology. He said China's experimental technology is identical to the technology that Russia, France, Japan and many other countries are applying to recycle fuel. However, these countries are able to recycle fuel on an industrial scale, while China is testing.