The following concept of plutonium utilization based on the evolutionary development of the traditional technology in our country arises: The main problem of any short-term program of dealing with plutonium must be solved - reliable and safe storage of separated energy plutonium and freed weapons plutonium before utilization in reactors. Plutonium (mainly energy plutonium) is utilized primarily in BN-800 fast reactors and the development of technology using weapons plutonium in BN-600 reactors starts. In the future attention should be focused on nuclear-power centers patterned after the Industrial Association "Mayak" (RT-1 plant, Complex 300, BN-800) with reliable nonproliferation of weapons plutonium. It is extremely important to speed up work on the completion of Complex 300: This work must be completed before BN-800 is ready. In the future efforts must be concentrated on the following: development and implementation, in BN-800, of an economically more efficient plutonium-burning core; the possibility of building light-water reactors with the required degree of safety for effective plutonium utilization must be justified (including a "cold" core based on cermet fuel); and, development and implementation of technology for a safe and an ecologically acceptable closed nuclear fuel cycle based on plutonium and233U with burnout of Am, Np, and Cm. © 1994 Plenum Publishing Corporation.
