Fuel Recycle in Japan - Significance, Status, Constraints and Prospects

Abstract

Since the development of atomic energy for peaceful purposes got under way with the Japan Atomic Energy Commission set up in 1956, it is their policy to reprocess all spent fuel from nuclear power plants throughout the program. It is considered that plutonium and depleted uranium, as recovered from reprocessing, should be used for reactor fuel with a view to making effective use of uranium resources. In this respect, along with our efforts at the fundamental study for nuclear power generation, we have long promoted the research and development of nuclear fuel technologies, including reprocessing and plutonium utilization. Today we have 25 nuclear power plants totalling about 1,734 MW. In addition, we have developed most of the facilities necessary for a nuclear fuel cycle--reactor fuel element fabrication, reprocessing and MOX fuel fabrication. A pilot uranium enrichment plant, put into operation lately is working on a centrifuge technology. During the 27 years that have passed since our atomic energy development and utilization program got under way, nuclear power generation capacity has been increased considerably and almost everything necessary for a nuclear fuel cycle has been prepared. Yet we have some problems to be solved in regard to the development of advanced power reactors and the development of nuclear fuel cycle capacity. In this paper we present an outline of these problems, notably the recycling policy as viewed in the context of Japan's nuclear power program and its background.