Company tells Louisiana committee recycling used fuel can cut waste and supply new reactor fuel

Summary

Ed McGinnis of Curio told a joint Natural Resources committee that advanced recycling of used nuclear fuel and new reactors could reduce high‑level waste to about 3–4% of its current volume, supply fuel for reactors and create thousands of jobs; state and federal licensing and siting were discussed during a lengthy question-and-answer session.

Ed McGinnis, a presenter identified as representing Curio, told the joint House and Senate committees on Natural Resources that his firm is developing an integrated fuel‑cycle approach that combines recycling of used nuclear fuel, advanced reactors and on‑site waste disposition.

McGinnis said the United States has about 90,000 metric tons of used nuclear fuel and that Curio’s “new cycle” recycling process would reduce the volume of high‑level radioactive material to about 3–4 percent of the original amount while recovering uranium, plutonium and valuable isotopes. “We want to unlock the full potential of the nuclear sector,” McGinnis said.

The presentation outlined three elements Curio says are required for a full nuclear fuel cycle: reactors, fuel and waste disposition. McGinnis described a recycling plant sized to process about 4,000 metric tons of used fuel per year and a reuse pathway in which recovered fuel could be returned to reactors. He also said Curio plans to supply plutonium‑based and uranium‑based…

Company tells Louisiana committee recycling used fuel can cut waste and supply new reactor fuel

Summary

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