Any country which has the ability to process uranium into nuclear fuel also has the ability to create nuclear or at least radioactive weapons (dirty bombs).  And, even if a country purchased processed uranium fuel rods from outside, one of the waste products of nuclear energy is weapons grade Plutonium.  This is why the world is so concerned about Iran's "energy" program, because there is no such thing as an energy-only program. This dichotomy is also one of the reasons that the US has not embarked on a major new nuclear energy program. During the past decade, the DOE's Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) was created designed to stop other nations from developing the full nuclear fuel cycle, no production of Enriched Uranium and no plutonium waste.   The developmental focus of the GNEP is the Fast Breeder Reactor, which is conisdered "proliferation proof," because it burns up plutonium, preventing any diversion towards nuclear weapons production. The problem with GNEP is that its blinders-on approach to development is tying the hands of the US, but not really the developing countries that it is designed to protect us from.  Although the program tries to offer energy assistance to these countries, we are acting more like a fearful controlling parent than a neighbor/mentor.  As a result, many other countries around the world are investing in newer more economical and environmentally friendly nuclear technologies and solutions while the US remains developmentally stagnant.