Spent fuel management

Spent fuel management refers to the processes involved in handling nuclear reactor waste after it has been used to generate energy. Once fuel has been depleted, it remains highly radioactive and requires careful treatment. The spent fuel is initially stored in cooling pools to reduce its heat and radioactivity before being moved to more permanent storage solutions, such as dry cask storage or deep geological repositories. Effective spent fuel management ensures safety for people and the environment, minimizes risks, and considers future reuse options or disposal methods, aiming for sustainable practices in the nuclear energy sector.