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A Review of the Pluthermal Programs

June  12,  2009
Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan

Eleven Japanese electric power companies, excluding the Okinawa Electric Power Co., Inc. and including nine other regional electric power companies, the Japan Atomic Power Company, Ltd., and the Electric Power Development Co., Ltd., have given pluthermal programs (utilization of plutonium in light water reactors) a high priority and have been working hard on implementing these programs at 16 to 18 nuclear reactors throughout the country by fiscal 2010.

As a result, three electric power companies, Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc., Shikoku Electric Power Co., Inc., and Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc., received a shipment of MOX fuel in May this year, while other electric power companies have concluded a fuel fabrication contracts with manufacturers and submitted proposals for pluthermal programs to host municipalities. Thus, the pluthermal programs are progressing steadily. Meanwhile, in April 2009 Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited rescheduled its plan to bring the MOX fuel fabrication plant into operation.
In addition, in June 2009, the Chairman of the Japan Atomic Energy Commission expressed an opinion on a revision of the programs in order to ensure transparency in the plutonium utilization.

Against this backdrop, we convened the MOX Energy Promotion Council, which is composed of the presidents of electric power companies, and the council adopted a resolution calling for a review of the pluthermal programs as noted in the attached annex as well as for continued industry-wide efforts on the pluthermal programs.

In order for us to continue to provide a steady supply of energy in Japan which lacks energy resources, it is essential to establish a nuclear fuel cycle, and so the pluthermal programs remain important.

The eleven electric power companies are determined to press ahead with pluthermal programs in order to utilize plutonium recovered both at home and abroad in accordance with Japan’s national policy of not owning plutonium that cannot be accounted for. We intend to carry out pluthermal programs as quickly as possible at 16 to 18 nuclear reactors across the country by fiscal 2015 at the latest, when the MOX fuel fabrication plant is scheduled to enter service.

The Revised Pluthermal Programs

Establishing a domestic nuclear fuel cycle is crucial and the perceived importance of pluthermal programs, including utilizing plutonium recovered abroad, remains unchanged. It is necessary for the Japanese electric power companies to implement pluthermal programs as quickly as possible at 16 to 18 nuclear reactors across the country by fiscal 2015 at the latest, when the MOX fuel fabrication plant comes on line.