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JAIF - Japan Atomic Industrial Forum Inc.
JAIF - Japan Atomic Industrial Forum Inc.
07/02/2012 | Press release
Atoms In Japan - JAEC Finalizes Nuclear Fuel-cycle Policy Options, Urging Flexib···
distributed by noodls on 07/02/2012 05:12
2 July, 2012
JAEC Finalizes Nuclear Fuel-cycle Policy Options, Urging Flexibility
On June 21, the Japan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) reached
its conclusion on the options for the country's nuclear fuel
cycle policy, incorporating almost all the contents of an
earlier report issued by its Technical Subcommittee on
Nuclear Power and the Nuclear Fuel Cycle (chaired by JAEC
Chairman Tatsujiro Suzuki). The subcommittee's report had
proposed nuclear fuel-cycle policies, suggesting three
options, described below.
The JAEC will later submit its report to Japan's
ministerial-level Energy and Environment Council. Noting that
"whatever option may be chosen, flexibility is important to
fully cope with future policy changes," the Commission's
decision calls on the national government to "make sure not
to destroy the trust established with siting municipalities,
which have been cooperating with national fuel-cycle policy
for many years, having accepted related facilities."
The JAEC's conclusion addresses the three options. With
Option 1, in which no new nuclear power plants (NPPs) would
be built and reliance on nuclear power reduced to zero, it
says that the direct disposal of all spent nuclear fuel would
be the most appropriate. With Option 2, in which dependence
on nuclear power would be reduced to about 15% by 2030, it
says that a combination of reprocessing and direct disposal
would be appropriate. And with Option 3, which combines
reduced reliance on nuclear power with the future
construction of new NPPs to maintain the nuclear share at
between 20% and 25%, it says that the reprocessing of all
spent fuel would be the most promising approach.
Regarding fast breeder reactor (FBR) development in
conjunction with those scenarios, the JAEC also made several
conclusions. Under Option 1, the FBR Monju would be suspended
and fundamental research alone would be promoted. Under
Option 2, functional tests and operation at rated thermal
output would be carried out at Monju for about five years, as
well as R&D to determine applications for practical use. And
under Option 3, R&D would be promoted with the aim of
commercialization, and Monju would be operated for a decade
or so to achieve the expected purpose.
Editor: Sachiko Onose, JAIF
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