MOX fuel is made with plutonium oxide and uranium oxide. The characteristics and behavior of MOX fuel have few differences from those of uranium fuel. More than 1,700 MOX fuel assemblies have been used, mainly in Europe. Its use in Japan has been demonstrated successfully. Plutonium is already being used as fuel in existing LWRs. In fact, some 30% of the power generated in nuclear reactors comes from burning the plutonium that results from the fission process. This extensive experience has proven that MOX fuel utilization can be conducted very safely.

USE OF MOX FUELS OVERSEAS (light water reactors)
Graph

Release: June 1999