Band 9: The diagram below shows how uranium is used in the production of nuclear power. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The scheme below illustrates the process of utilizing uranium in a full cycle of generating nuclear power.

Looking from an overall perspective, it is apparent that it comprises 6 main stages in a full process of nuclear power production, beginning with getting uranium from underground and ending with 2 outcomes: a particular part of the nuclear power can be re-utilized, and some part of the fuel, which cannot be re-used, is buried underground.

First and foremost, uranium sources must be mined from the ground, followed by the process of converting uranium ore and mixing it with special fertilizers in order to manufacture U-235 fuel pellets. At the subsequent stage, sophisticated machinery, namely U-235 fuel-powered generators, must be applied for generating electricity.

Once this has been done, after the 4-year period, the fuel is spent, and there are two possible outcomes. Firstly, some amount of the power source can be re-processed and used for other industrial purposes. Meanwhile, remaining fuel that cannot be regenerated is put into special reservoirs and subsequently, the containers are buried.