Japan's Power Companies Plan to Utilize Recovered Plutonium in Nuclear Power Plants

As Japan moves to streamline its nuclear fuel cycle, major power companies have announced plans to use the plutonium that will be recovered from spent nuclear fuel at a reprocessing plant in Aomori Prefecture. The power companies aim to start using the reprocessed fuel in 16 to 18 nuclear power plants across Japan in 2012 or later, marking a significant shift towards domestic fuel cycle management.

Key Takeaways:

• The final tests for extracting plutonium from spent nuclear fuel are set to begin next month at Japan Nuclear Fuel Ltd.'s Rokkasho complex, with the reprocessing plant expected to extract more than 4 tons of plutonium per year when running at full capacity.
• The power companies, including Japan Atomic Power Co. and Electric Power Development Co. (TSE:9513), are pursuing pluthermal power generation, where reprocessed plutonium is mixed with uranium and used in conventional light-water reactors.
• Okinawa Electric Power Co. (TSE:9511) is not part of this group and has not been included in the plan.
• The reprocessing plant is expected to officially start operations in July 2007, with domestic fuel fabrication and reprocessing set to become operational by fiscal 2012.
• The power companies plan to use 5.5 to 6.5 tons of plutonium per year, either from the Aomori plant or from fuel processed overseas.
• The Atomic Energy Commission of Japan had asked the power companies to submit plans for plutonium use in response to growing calls for stronger nuclear management worldwide.

Statistics:

• 4 tons: The amount of plutonium expected to be extracted per year from the reprocessing plant at full capacity.
• 5.5 to 6.5 tons: The annual amount of plutonium planned for use either from the Aomori plant or from fuel processed overseas.
• 16 to 18: The number of nuclear power plants across Japan that plan to use the reprocessed fuel in 2012 or later.
• 2007: The year when the reprocessing plant is expected to officially start operations.
• 2012: The fiscal year when domestic fuel fabrication and reprocessing are set to become operational.
• 10-01: The reference date for the press release.

Sources:

• Asia Pulse - Major power companies Friday announced plans for using the plutonium that is expected to be recovered at a nuclear fuel reprocessing plant under construction in Aomori Prefecture.
• Nikkei - The Atomic Energy Commission of Japan had asked the power companies to submit plans for plutonium use due to growing calls around the world for stronger nuclear management.