| Russia |
BN‑800 (in‑service, Br‑F ≈ 1.2) BN‑1200 (under construction, Br‑F ≈ 1.3) |
Mayak‑RT‑1 – ≈ 2 kt U / yr, 95 % recovery |
MOX plant at Mayak (Pu → MOX for VVERs) |
Rosatom “Closed Nuclear Fuel Cycle” programme (2022‑2025) – 100 % Pu recycle, 90 % recycling target by 2060 |
✓ – With BN‑1200 + full re‑process, fresh‑Uranium need drops to ≈ 0 % by ≈ 2040. |
| China |
CEFR (operational, Br‑F ≈ 1.1) CFR‑600 (under construction, Br‑F ≈ 1.2) |
Taishan Re‑process plant (under construction, ≈ 2 kt U / yr) |
MOX line in planning (first batch 2026‑2027) |
14‑Year Plan (2021‑2025) – massive push for Fast‑Breeders, aim > 200 GW nuclear by 2030; explicit closed‑cycle targets. |
~✓ – Full re‑process + 2–3 GW of breeders could cut fresh‑Uranium to < 5 % by ≈ 2040; 0 % possible after 2050 with further breeders. |
| United States |
None – only test/experimental fast reactors (e.g., BREST, BN‑800‑test) |
No commercial re‑process (THORP shut 2019) – only legacy small‑scale pilot. |
No MOX production (last MOX plant closed 2020). |
No national closed‑fuel‑cycle strategy; focus on LWR life‑extensions and SMR development. |
✗ – Without breeder & re‑process, fresh‑Uranium imports will remain > 90 % for the next 30‑40 yr. |
| France |
None – only research/DEMOs (e.g., ASTRID stopped) |
La Hague – ≈ 2 kt U / yr, 95 % recovery |
Large MOX plant (≈ 15 % of French fuel) |
Long‑standing “Closed‑Fuel‑Cycle” policy (no breeder component) |
~✗ – MOX cuts fresh‑Uranium to ~ 70 % of demand; without breeder, 0 % impossible. |
| United Kingdom (England) |
None – only SMR/advanced‑reactor pilots (no commercial breeder) |
Sellafield/THORP – ≈ 2 kt U / yr, 95 % recovery |
MOX plant (≈ 15 % of LWR fuel) |
Advanced Nuclear Power Programme (2023‑2028) – aims to build SMRs & a Fast‑Breeder pilot (still pre‑construction). |
~✗ – With a single 1 GW breeder plus full re‑process, fresh‑Uranium could fall < 5 % by ≈ 2045‑2050; 0 % only after multiple breeders (post‑2050). |
| India |
PFBR (500 MW, Br‑F ≈ 1.1, operational) |
Rokkasho‑style plant (under construction, ≈ 1 kt U / yr) |
Small‑scale MOX pilot (limited) |
Nuclear Energy Mission (2025) – expand breeder fleet, increase re‑process, but still early stage. |
~✗ – One PFBR offsets ~ 10 % of fresh‑Uranium; full closure would need 3‑4 GW of breeders + larger re‑process → > 2035‑2040 horizon. |
| South Korea |
No commercial breeder – only KALIMER (prototype, not yet operating) |
KAERI Re‑processing (pilot, < 0.5 kt U / yr) |
MOX production (small, ~ 5 % of fuel) |
Nuclear Power Roadmap (2022‑2030) – aims for SMRs & eventual fast‑reactor demonstration, but no firm closed‑cycle law. |
✗ – Without a full‑scale breeder, fresh‑Uranium imports will stay > 80 % for the next decades. |
| Japan |
No commercial breeder – only JSFR (demonstration, not operating) |
Rokkasho Re‑processing (≈ 0.5 kt U / yr, 95 % recovery) |
MOX plant (≈ 10 % of LWR fuel) |
Post‑Fukushima policy focuses on safety & gradual phase‑out; no closed‑fuel‑cycle mandate. |
✗ – With limited re‑process & no breeder, fresh‑Uranium dependence remains > 70 % for 30‑40 yr. |