International concerns about proliferation of nuclear weapons following the Cold War and possible smuggling of nuclear material as well as enrichment and reprocessing technologies by illegal groups, have given rise to efforts to invoke effective international measures. Meanwhile, nuclear-weapon states with dominant political, military and economic power play a more important role in this respect to shape the international norms and regulations. While maintaining their nuclear monopolies, such states have decided to promote establishment of a world bank of nuclear fuel in order to ensure international supply of nuclear fuel to countries without a nuclear fuel cycle. Endeavors and lobbying by nuclear states to discourage development of local nuclear capabilities by other countries through offering various alternatives finally prompted International Atomic Energy Agency to give the green light for the establishment of the nuclear fuel bank in 2010. The present paper discusses background of the international nuclear fuel bank while focusing on the existing barriers and future outlooks.
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