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Japan might suspend developing its troubled fast breeder reactor

Unlike regular light-water reactors fueled by uranium, the Monju reactor, operated by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, runs on an oxide mix of plutonium and uranium, or MOX, made from spent nuclear fuel from existing plants.

The reactor first achieved criticality in 1994, but was shut down due to a serious accident involving a leak of sodium coolant and a resulting fire in 1995.

Science minister says gov’t will mull halting Monju prototype reactor project, Mainichi Japan) July 15, 2011TOKYO (Kyodo) — Science minister Yoshiaki Takaki indicated Friday that the government will consider suspending the development of the prototype fast-breeder reactor Monju in the wake of the country’s worst nuclear crisis that continues at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant.

Whether to halt development of the advanced power reactor is “one issue” to be determined when Tokyo comes to review its nuclear energy policy, Takaki said at a regular press conference.

“The accident (at the Fukushima plant) is serious. It’s only natural to discuss” matters including the suspension of Monju located in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, in central Japan, he added.

Meanwhile, Fukui Gov. Issei Nishikawa telephoned Takaki in protest after hearing news reports about the minister’s remarks.

Nishikawa told reporters in Tsuruga that the science minister denied making such remarks, quoting the minister as telling the governor that he “would not say such a thing without listening to what the local people have to say.”

A top official at the Fukui prefectural government said the local government is checking the details of Takaki’s remarks, while another official said the remarks came as no surprise as Prime Minister Naoto Kan has called for a society free from dependence on nuclear energy.

Unlike regular light-water reactors fueled by uranium, the Monju reactor, operated by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, runs on an oxide mix of plutonium and uranium, or MOX, made from spent nuclear fuel from existing plants.

The reactor first achieved criticality in 1994, but was shut down due to a serious accident involving a leak of sodium coolant and a resulting fire in 1995.

Monju resumed operations in May 2010 after being idled for 14 years and five months, but the launch of full operations was delayed again as a device in the reactor accidentally fell inside the vessel in August that year. The agency removed the device in June.

In the fiscal 2011 white paper on science and technology, approved by the Cabinet on Tuesday, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology deleted a sentence saying that it will realize the establishment of a fast-breeder reactor, backpedaling on its drive for research and development on nuclear power.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110715p2g00m0dm104000c.html

 

July 15, 2011 - Posted by | Japan, reprocessing

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