3. Economic aspects

3.1 Request for conversion

Demand for UF ₆ conversion is dimensioned by the feed requirements of isotope enrichment plants, which in turn are driven by reactor fuel requirements. Insofar as stocks of both enriched uranium and uranium already in UF ₆ form can be made available to the market, the link between consumption linked to the operation of power reactors and demand for UF ₆ conversion production is not direct. In addition, the enrichment rejection rate (residual ²³⁵ U content at the enrichment plant outlet), which results from the economic optimization between uranium price and enrichment unit...