Evaluation of the effectiveness of investments in spent nuclear fuel reprocessing

Abstract

The article presents an economic and analytical model that evaluates various criteria for the effectiveness of investments in spent nuclear fuel reprocessing plants at given capital, operating, and decommissioning costs, as well as expected project implementation deadlines. The model also solves the inverse problem of determining the requirements for plant parameters based on the criteria of investment effectiveness. The results of the calculation of the most important of these parameters, including the internal rate of return, the discounted payback period, and the levelized cost of reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, are presented. The mathematical definition of the net present value, representing the main criterion, depends on the plant capacity, which varies from 200 to 3000 t of fuel per year. The estimated conditions under which the net present value of reprocessing spent nuclear fuel does not exceed $1000/kg are presented.