Introduction

Uranium is one of the world's most important energy resources. The process of preparing uranium for use as nuclear fuel, using that fuel to produce energy in a nuclear reactor, and storing, recycling, or disposing of spent nuclear fuel and waste is known as the nuclear fuel cycle. In most countries, nuclear material is used and disposed of safely.

To learn more about the nuclear fuel cycle, start by clicking on the first stage of the cycle-mining and milling.

There are several stages in the fuel cycle at which nuclear material may be diverted from peaceful purposes for use in nuclear weapons. In these stages, the red text describes how nuclear material could be taken out of the fuel cycle and used to make a nuclear bomb.