Uranium Enrichment and Nuclear Weapon Proliferation

This book provides technical and political information to evaluate the emerging threat to world security posed by recent advances in uranium enrichment technology. It discusses the development of new and more accessible enrichment techniques, the projection of world demand for uranium enrichment services, and the states most likely to pursue the enrichment route to acquisition of nuclear weapons.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 04 September 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Originally published in 1983, this comprehensive book offers a comprehensive examination of the emerging threat to global security posed by recent advancements in uranium enrichment technology. Uranium enrichment has played a pivotal yet relatively understated role in the history of nations' endeavors to acquire nuclear weapons and prevent the proliferation of these weapons. For many years, the uranium enrichment industry was dominated by a single method, gaseous diffusion, which was technically complex, extremely capital-intensive, and highly inefficient in its energy utilization. Consequently, only the wealthiest and most technologically advanced nations could afford to pursue the enrichment route to weapon acquisition.

However, a significant shift occurred in the 1970s. Several innovative and significantly more accessible enrichment techniques were developed, driven primarily by the anticipation of a rapidly growing demand for enrichment services by the global nuclear power industry. This proliferation of new techniques, coupled with the subsequent contraction of the commercial market for enriched uranium, has created a situation where uranium enrichment technology could well emerge as the most significant contributor to further nuclear weapon proliferation.

This book addresses a range of critical issues, including:

A technical analysis of the most important enrichment techniques, presented in a format that is relevant to the analysis of proliferation risks.

A detailed projection of the global demand for uranium enrichment services, providing insights into the future market trends and implications.

A comprehensive summary and critique of present institutional non-proliferation arrangements within the world enrichment industry, highlighting areas for improvement and potential vulnerabilities.

An identification of the states that are most likely to pursue the enrichment route, analyzing their motivations, capabilities, and potential risks associated with such endeavors.

By providing a comprehensive and detailed examination of these issues, this book serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders concerned with the threat of nuclear proliferation and the safe and secure use of nuclear energy.

Weight: 598g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367523374