<P> Fuel costs account for about 28% of a nuclear plant's operating expenses . As of 2013, half the cost of reactor fuel was taken up by enrichment and fabrication, so that the cost of the uranium concentrate raw material was 14 percent of operating costs . Doubling the price of uranium would add about 10% to the cost of electricity produced in existing nuclear plants, and about half that much to the cost of electricity in future power plants . The cost of raw uranium contributes about $0.0015 / kWh to the cost of nuclear electricity, while in breeder reactors the uranium cost falls to $0.000015 / kWh . </P> <P> As of 2008, mining activity was growing rapidly, especially from smaller companies, but putting a uranium deposit into production takes 10 years or more . The world's present measured resources of uranium, economically recoverable at a price of 130 USD / kg according to the industry groups Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), are enough to last for "at least a century" at current consumption rates . </P> <P> According to the World Nuclear Association, "the world's present measured resources of uranium (5.7 Mt) in the cost category less than three times present spot prices and used only in conventional reactors, are enough to last for about 90 years . This represents a higher level of assured resources than is normal for most minerals . Further exploration and higher prices will certainly, on the basis of present geological knowledge, yield further resources as present ones are used up ." The amount of uranium present in all currently known conventional reserves alone (excluding the huge quantities of currently - uneconomical uranium present in "unconventional" reserves such as phosphate / phosphorite deposits, seawater, and other sources) is enough to last over 200 years at current consumption rates . Fuel efficiency in conventional reactors has increased over time . Additionally, since 2000, 12--15% of world uranium requirements have been met by the dilution of highly enriched weapons - grade uranium from the decommissioning of nuclear weapons and related military stockpiles with depleted uranium, natural uranium, or partially - enriched uranium sources to produce low - enriched uranium for use in commercial power reactors . Similar efforts have been utilizing weapons - grade plutonium to produce mixed oxide (MOX) fuel, which is also produced from reprocessing used fuel . Other components of used fuel are currently less commonly utilized, but have a substantial capacity for reuse, especially so in next - generation fast neutron reactors . Over 35 European reactors are licensed to use MOX fuel, as well as Russian and American nuclear plants . Reprocessing of used fuel increases utilization by approximately 30%, while the widespread use of fast breeder reactors would allow for an increase of "50-fold or more" in utilization . </P> <P> All nuclear plants produce radioactive waste . To pay for the cost of storing, transporting and disposing these wastes in a permanent location, in the United States a surcharge of a tenth of a cent per kilowatt - hour is added to electricity bills . Roughly one percent of electrical utility bills in provinces using nuclear power are diverted to fund nuclear waste disposal in Canada . </P>

Which of the following is a benefit of nuclear power