The average efficiency of uranium fuel is 2.5 million times greater than that of traditional sources of energy such as coal, oil, and natural gas. On a projection basis the natural resources of traditional fuel will be exhausted in 200 years, if the fuel production optimum remains at the same level as it is now. This is a very serious argument in favor of nuclear means as a global energy solution. The functioning of the industrial fuel and energy complex entails destructive consequences for the environment at all the stages from geological prospecting and mining works to power production. Coal, as the primary fuel, produces, when burning, the largest amount of environmental pollution, including radioactive materials.
Natural gas is dangerously combustible and explosive.
There have been numerous accidents at gas pipelines. In its turn, nuclear power production is a comparatively young industry which has developed parallel to defense programs. This problem is likely to be solved by means of nuclear sources of energy. It is expected that the nuclear plants of future generations will be safer and more efficient than the existing nuclear power plants. Yet, this level of efficiency can be reached only on the basis of thermonuclear plants.