The US market for radioactive waste management technologies and services in 2002 is estimated at $6.7 billion, and is expected to fall at an average annual rate of 3.8 per cent through to 2007, which will reduce it to $5.5 billion, according to a report from the Business Communications Company. Meanwhile the international market is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 0.7 per cent.
Treatment technologies and services have the largest share, at 15 per cent. Decontamination and decommissioning technologies and services, currently at 14 per cent, are falling the fastest, at 14.6 per cent per year.
A peak is expected during 2003-2005, as new Congressional funding will be available for a recently established Expedited Cleanup Account, designed to shorten clean-up times at major plants, but a decline is forecast for 2006 and 2007, as many facilities have 2006 cleanup dates.
