Nuclear fuel transport: Overview
Moving the world's most energy-dense fuel safely
Moving the world's most energy-dense fuel safely What this tile covers Licensed shielded containers for fresh fuel, and heavy casks for spent fuel. Share of use 5.2% share of world energy carried (2024)Share of world total energy supply (592 EJ in 2024, Energy Institute Statistical Review 2025, physical energy content) carried at least once by this mode; overlaps allowed, so shares do not add to 100 (calculated) Nuclear supplied 30.74 EJ in 2024, counted as reactor heat; all of its fuel travels from mine, conversion and enrichment to reactors in licensed containers. Source: Statistical Review of World Energy 2025, Energy Institute.
Key facts
| Form | Nuclear fuel |
Included from the reference tables
- Shielded containers by road, rail and sea
- Spent-fuel casks
Linked to the material world
U UraniumAlso in Solid and nuclear fuels
CT Coal transportFW Firewood and charcoal supplyExplore paths from here
More on this tile in the tabs above: how it works, efficiency and losses, technology advances, value chain, geopolitics and regulation, unit economics, impact on the biosphere.