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Focus: Issue 89, Volume 3, 2009 - The cover story, which only deals with light water reactors of current and evolutionary designs, looks at the implications for a reactor operator of using fuel with enrichments greater than five weight percent (w/o) without considering the balancing side of what it would take to provide the necessary fuel cycle services and the costs associated with any changes that might be needed.
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Focus: Issue 88, Volume 2, 2009 - The cover story weighs the possible impact that currency exchange rates can have on front-end nuclear costs. NAC's assessment takes into account historical trends, while also scrutinizing purchasing-power parity in order to get a clearer picture of the situation.
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India: Land of Nuclear Promise
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Is Nuclear Fuel Market Competition Alive and Well?
Visions on Globalization, Consolidation and
Vertical Integration
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Focus: Issue 87, Volume 1, 2009 - The cover story considers the Obama Administration's potential nuclear power policy by pouring over debate transcripts, looking into the career of the new Secretary of Energy (Dr. Steven Chu) and measuring how presidential decisions may hurt or help the industry in the near to long term.
- Lower U3O8 Spot Prices: Impact on Juniors
- Poolside Fuel Inspection Techniques:
An Ounce of Prevention
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Focus: Issue 86, Volume 4, 2008 - The cover story evaluates the road ahead for the Megatons-to-Megawatts program, both in terms of Russia's and USEC's perspective. The history of the program is also dissected in order to put the program's history and future in a proper perspective.
- Trends in Fuel Reliability
- Hyperinflation and Estimated U3O8 Production Costs:
A Bubble or Lasting Impact?
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Focus: Issue 85, Volume 3, 2008 - The cover story examines how despite the improvements in the design of nuclear fuel
assemblies for reactors over the years, utilities are still facing challenges with fuel fretting to a certain degree. What improvements are on the horizon and potential lessons learned are also considered.
- Primary U3O8 Supply: Additional Consolidation Likely
- The TAD System & the Evolving U.S. Spent Fuel Program
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Focus: Issue 84, Volume 2, 2008 - The cover story asks the questions many in the industry wonder about the economics and overall feasibility of plutonium recycle in MOX. As the industry sector enters a potentially new era, there are several factors to define and better understand.
- Plutonium Recycle in MOX: Moving into a New Era?
- Fuel Reliability-Higher Standards for Improved Operations
- Term U3O8 Contracts-What is a Reasonable Price?
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Focus: Issue 83, Volume 1, 2008 - The cover story takes into account the uprates performed in the United States and Europefrom 1977 to 2007. In particular, a case study from 1983 is analyzed for trends and overall insight.
- Power Uprate: A Case Study
- Uranium Production: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
- Challenges Facing the Conversion Industry: Reprise
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Focus: Issue 82, Volume 4, 2007 - The cover story considers the potential developments, risks and opportunities available in terms of Russian uranium supply. On the verge of a major restructuring of the commercial nuclear market, there are several changes ahead on every aspect of the Russian nuclear fuel cycle--and with uranium in particular.
- Russian Uranium Supply: Plans, Hopes & Uncertainties
- Mulling Options—Reprocessed Uranium Recycle: Technically Mature While Commercially Still Evolving
- Nuclear Power in China
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Focus: Issue 81, Volume 3, 2007 - The cover story examines how the enrichment market is in the process of moving to an all-centrifuge supply industry. This article presents supply/demand scenarios for enrichment markets and considers long-term possible implications.
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Future Enrichment Supply: The More the Merrier
- Value Added Initiatives for Kazakhstan
Uranium through Vertical Integration in
the Nuclear Fuel Cycle
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U3O8 Cost Curves: More Relevant Now?
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Focus: Issue 80, Volume 2, 2007 - The cover story details how in 2006 uranium production patterns and trends were directly impacted by two forces--market price and reactor-related uranium requirements. The remainder of the issue analyzes competitiveness in the nuclear industry, as well as considering the economics of re-enrichment in the context of the U3O8 (supply/requirements) "gap".
- Market Price and Production Headed in Opposite Directions in 2006: What’s Next?
- Competitiveness of Nuclear Power
- Tails Re-Enrichment and the U3O8 “Gap”
- Fuel-Trac Snapshot & Reprocessing Update
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Focus: Issue 79, Volume 1, 2007 - This issue examines the changing mood of today's uranium production industry, particularly in Russia. Also reviewed is DOE's MOX Test Irradiation Program. Finally, the nuances of the current path toward the current nuclear renaissance is considered.
- Russia: No Longer Going it Alone Seeks Partners at Home and Abroad
- Overview of DOE's
MOX Test Irradiation Program
- Obstacles in the Way of the Nuclear Renaissance
- Fuel-Trac Highlights
- Reprocessing Update
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Focus: Issue 78, Volume 4, 2006 - This issue covers
the progress of the Uranium Production industry in 2006 and
analyzes its growth potential based on what has happened thus
far. Also reviewed is the security of the global U3O8 supply
using the Cigar Lake incident as an example. Recent trends in
LWR fuel reliability are discussed as well.
- The Uranium Production Industry in 2006 - Is the Sky Really
the Limit?
- Security of U3O8 Supply: A Real Problem?
- 2006 Update on Fuel Reliability Trends in Light-Water Reactors
- Fuel-Trac Snapshot
- Reprocessing Update
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Focus: Issue 77, Volume 3, 2006 - The main story from
this issue explores the sustainability of the uranium market and
its growth. Also discussed in this edition are the economic feasibility
of reprocessing as well as the challenges and reform of the Russian
nuclear market.
- Rebuilding the Uranium Industry: Expectations and Reality
- Economics of Reprocessing: A Broad Perspective
- Reorganization of Russia's Nuclear Industry: A Russian Viewpoint
- Fuel-Trac Snapshot
- Reprocessing Update
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Focus: Issue 76, Volume 2, 2006 - The cover story features
an article on whether the nuclear industry can support a new era
of orders. The other main articles cover how past uranium exploration
is being reviewed again, and the Russian long term uranium situation.
- New Nuclear Plants: Can the Nuclear Industry Support a New
Era of Orders?
- Expanding Uranium Production Capacity: Benefiting from the
Past
- Russian Long-Term Uranium Situation: Update 2006
- Fuel-Trac Snapshot
- Reprocessing Update
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Focus: Issue 75, Volume 1, 2006 - Our cover story evaluates
what effect currency exchange rates have had on uranium prices
over the past five years and what future changes in U.S. dollar
valuation could mean. Other articles include a look into Russia's
plans to import Spent Nuclear Fuel and a historical evaluation
of uranium price versus supply.
- Currency Exchange Rates and Front-End Nuclear Fuel Market
Prices
- The Uranium Market Price and Its Relationship to Supply
- Revisiting Russia's Plans to Import Spent Fuel: A Commentary
- Fuel-Trac Highlights
- Reprocessing Update
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Focus: Issue 74, Volume 4, 2005 - This issue features
a focus on U.S Spent Fuel policy and then shifts to front end
supply issues with a look at Kazakhstan's uranium production capability.
An additional article takes a renewed look at fuel reliability,
specifically in light-water reactors.
- Possible Shift in U.S. Spent Fuel Policy - Why Now?
- Kazakhstan - Making Good on Its Word
- Update on Fuel Reliability Trends in Light-Water Reactors
- Reprocessing Update
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Focus: Issue 73, Volume 3, 2005 - This issue leads with an
analysis of the dismantling of the U.K. nuclear fuel servied industry.
Other features include: a look at the potential impacts related
to the sale of westinghouse, future uncertainty in uranium demand,
and an evaluation of the delay of a nuclear renaissance in Germany.
- Dismatling the U.K. Nuclear Fuel Service Industry
- Potential Impacts from the Sale of Westinghouse
- Uranium Demand: How Uncertain is the Future?
- Nuclear Renaissance in Germany Delayed?
- Reprocessing Update
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Focus: Issue 72, Volume 2, 2005 - Articles in this issue include
an evaluation of uncertainties in the future uranium fuel cycle
supply/demand balance, a look at Kazatomprom's Ulba Metallurgical
Plant, and a renewed look at worldwide uranium production and
capacity.
- Uranium, Conversion and Enrichment Needs: Implications of
Uncertainties for future Supply/Demand Balance
- Ulba Metallurgical Plant: Experience and Future Prospects
- Primary Uranium Supply: It the Present the Key to the Future?
- Fuel-Trac Snapshot & Reprocessing Update
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Focus: Issue 71, Volume 1, 2005 - The lead story is an indepth
comparison and evaluation of the Cigar Lake and McArthur River
Uranium Projects. Other feature articles look at growth in the
nuclear generation industry - potential growth in the U.S. and
increasing construction in China.
- Cigar Lake & McArthur River: Similar But Not Mirror Images
- Nuclear Power 2010: Jump-Starting U.S. Nuclear Growth?
- Nuclear Power in China: On a Fast Track
- Fuel Trac Snapshot
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Focus: Issue 70, Volume 4, 2004 - This issue explores the
status of in situ leach (ISL) mining - from past to present and
future as well as advantages and disadvantages. Other feature
articles include an evaluation of lower optimum tails assay and
the corresponding impact on the conversion market and an update
on fuel reliability trends in light-water reactors
- Tails Assay and the Conversion Market: Debunking a Myth
- In Situ Leaching of Uranium: An Up and Down Past But a Bright
Future
- Update on Fuel Reliability Trends in Light-Water Reactors
- Fuel Trac Snapshot
- Reprocessing Update
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Focus: Issue 69, Volume 3, 2004 - This issue features articles
on the costs of long term spent fuel disposal and specifically
Yucca Mountain, the growing imbalance between supply and demand
in Uranium markets, the restructuring of Russia's Nuclear industry,
and an update on the future of U.S. nuclear fuel costs.
- Yucca Mountain: Will it be Completed at Any Cost?
- The Impending Imbalance Between Uranium Supply and Demand--No
Quick Fix in Sight
- Which Way Is Up? The Double Restructuring of Russia's Nuclear
Industry and Its Implications
- Revisiting US Nuclear Fuel Costs: Reported Average Increases
Slightly in 2003
- Fuel-Trac Update
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Focus: Issue 68, Volume 2, 2004 - Articles in this issue include
an evaluation of LWR Fabrication Plant utiliztion, a realistic
look at U308 Production Capability, a Fuel-Trac snapshot of Worldwide
MWe Forecasts, prospects for the future of reprocessing, and a
revived look at Reprocessed Uranium Recycle.
- Industry Names & Notes
- LWR Fabrication Plant Utilization
- Increasing Primary U3O8 Prodction Capability: A Reality Check
- Fuel-Trac Snapshot: Overview of Worldwide Nuclear MWe Forecasts
- Reprocessing: Mixed Prospects for the Future
- Rekindled Interest in Reprocessed Uranium Recycle
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Focus: Issue 67, Volume 1, 2004 - This issue includes articles
on changes in the conversion industry and the impact of spot prices,
the status of the U3O8 industry around the world and its future,
Russian Uranium supply and production, and a look at the safety
of spent fuel transportation.
- Challenges Facing the U308-to-UF6 Conversion Industry
- The Changing U308 Market: Can We Learn From the Past
- Russian Long-Term Uranium Situation
- Ansering the Challenge: ADemonstration of Spent Fuel Transportation
Safety
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Focus: Issue 66, Volume 4, 2003 - This issue includes articles
on the implication of utility and supplier consolidations, LWR
fuel reliability trends, the GNSS/TENEX conflict, Currency and
exchange rate effects on U3O8 spot prices,
and a look at the U.S. spent fuel and dry storage situation.
- Industry Names & Notes
- Putting the Pieces Together: Utility and Supplier Consolidation,
Implications for the Front-End Markets
- Fuel Reliability Trends in Light-Water Reactors
- GNSS Case: Calculated Strategy or Russian Roulette?
- Currency Exchange Rate and U3O8 Spot
Prices: Reprise
- U.S. Spent Fuel Update: Year 2003 in Review
- Fuel-Trac Snapshot: Worldwide Nuclear Generating Capacity
- Reprocessing Update
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Focus: Issue 65, Volume 3, 2003 - This issue features articles
on the self-sufficiency of Russia's nuclear fuel, the future of
U.S. nuclear fuel costs, the Russian Suspension Agreement, and
trends in steam generator replacement.
- Fuel-Trac Snapshot: Comparison of U3O8
, UF6, and Enrichment Projections
- Russia's Nuclear Fuel Cycle: Self-Sufficiency No Longer Assured
- U.S. Nuclear Fuel Costs: Is the Downhill Ride Over?
- Russian Suspension Agreement: To Be, Or Not To Be?
- Looking Back While Looking Ahead at Trends in Steam Generator
Replacement
- Reprocessing Update
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Focus: Issue 64, Volume 2, 2003 - This issue includes articles
on the characterization of spent nuclear fuel, Kazatomprom's future
as one of the world's largest uranium suppliers, the MOX fuel
market, and a look at the factors behind O & M cost improvements
at U.S. nuclear plants
- Fuel-Trac Snapshot: Number of buyers with initial uncommited
demand from 2003 - 2010 for each commodity of the nuclear fuel
cycle
- Another Hurdle on the Road to Dry Storage: Characterizing
Spent Nuclear Fuel
- Kazatomprom: A Leading Uranium Producer with Room to Grow
- MOX: A Nuclear Opportunity
- O & M Cost Improvements at U.S. Nuclear Plants
- Reprocessing Update
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Focus: Issue 63, Volume 1, 2003 - Articles in this issue include
an update on the McArthur River mine flood, Fuel-Trac snapshots
of the front-end nuclear fuel markets and the international back-end
industry, the impact of new transportation regulations, China's
nuclear industry, and a site visit report on the Degtyarev centrifuge
production plant in Russia.
- Fuel-Trac Snapshot: Contrasting the Front-End Nuclear Fuel
Markets
- Interruption of Production at McArthur River
- Fuel-Trac Back-End Snapshot: Assessment of Current and Future
International Back-End Industry Based on Fuel-Trac Modeling
- Degtyarev: Russian Production Plant for Anti-Tank Missiles,
Large-Caliber Machine Guns, Sniper Rifles, and Gas Centrifuges
- New U.S. Transportation Regulations: Potential Impact on Future
Nuclear Fuel Markets
- China's Civilian Nuclear Industry at a Crossroad
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Focus: Issue 62, Volume 4, 2002 - This issue features a look
at how the uranium production industry has changed during the
past decade. Also in this issue are articles on power uprates
at U.S. reactors, and an analysis of what the uranium industry
can learn from what has happened in the pulp and paper industry.
- Diversity in the Uranium Production Industry: Past, Present,
and Future
- U.S. Market Snapshot: Analyzing Uprates
- Nuclear Transportation Crossroads
- Lessons Applicable to the U3O8 Market
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Focus: Issue 61, Volume 3, 2002 - This issue includes
articles on the prospects for Russia's Spent Fuel Management Initiative,
USEC and Urenco's plans for centifuge enrichment plants in the
U.S., and a look at the IAEA's recently published Red Book.
- Uranium Resource Estimates: A Forecasting Tool to be Used
with Caution
- Forging a New Future for U.S. SWU Production
- Russia's SNF Import Program: Impossible Dream or Insightful
Vision
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Focus: Issue 60, Volume 2, 2002 - The lead story is an
assessment of fuel fabrication industry consolidation and the
short and long-term impact. The other feature articles include
an in-depth look at 2001 U3O8 production
numbers and the effect of currency exchange rates on future uranium
prices.
- Fuel Fabrication: Assessing Both Short-, Long-Term Impact
of Industry Consolidation
- 2001 U3O8 Output: Inside the Numbers
- Currency Exchange Rates: Potential to Affect Future U3O8
Prices
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Focus: Issue 59, Volume 1, 2002 - The co-chairmen of the new
U.S. Transportation Coalition outline their views on spent fuel
transportation to Yucca Mountain. Other articles include a look
at decomissioning costs and legacy of Cold War uranium production
facilities and an examination of the conversion market. Other
features include a U.K. Market Update, 2001 uranium production
numbers, and Fuel-Trac Highlights.
- The Truth About Spent Fuel Transportation and Yucca Mountain
- Uranium Production: The Legacy; The Cost; The Lesson
- The Worldwide Conversion Market: Is This The Dawn of a New
Era
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Focus: Issue 58, Volume 4, 2001 - This issue features
a look at the future of EDF with regard to reprocessing and market
liberalization. Other articles include an examination of U.S.
nuclear utility production cost improvements and the possibility
of expansion of the HEU deal between the U.S. and Russia.
- What's on the Horizon? Controversy over EdF's Future
- Most Improved: Tracking the U.S. Nuclear Utilities and Their
Absolute Total Production Cost Improvements (1997-2000)
- HEU to LEU: Swords to Plowshares - Round 2?
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Focus: Issue 57, Volume 3, 2001 - The feature article
is on the world long-term uranium supply situation. Another article
looks at the evolution of materials used in PWR fuel assemblies.
This issue also includes a look at how the Russian industry has
performed in the transition to a market economy.
- Long-Term Uranium Supply: Potential Risks and Uncertainties
- Tracking the Evolution in PWR Fuel Assembly Materials
- Russian Nuclear Industry: How Does It Fare in the Transition
from the Old to the New Way of Doing Business?
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Focus: Issue 56, Volume 2, 2001 - This issue features
articles on the future of European deregulation, a discussion
on the effect of higher capacity factors on uranium requirements,
and the acceleration of plant license renewals.
- European Deregulation: What Lies Ahead?
- Higher Capacity Factors: Relationship to Future Reactor
Requirements
- Nuclear Power Plant License Renewals Accelerating
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Focus: Issue 55, Volume 1, 2001 - This issue features articles
on nuclear's future with respect to the California electricity
crisis, analysis of the economic feasibility of Russia's plan
to import spent fuel, and an update on the supply/demand gap in
uranium production.
- Nuclear Paradox: Relevancy in the Face of the California
Crisis
- The Primary U3O8 Production Gap:
Reprise
- Economic Realities: Russian Spent Fuel Management Initiative
- Lower Fuel Prices a Factor in Nuclear's Competitive Position
- U.S. Spent Fuel Update: 2000 in Review
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