Aomori Nuclear Fuel Factory De facto Pass Examination Draft Summary Regulatory Commission October 7, 12:06
For the country's first commercial nuclear fuel plant, which uses plutonium extracted from spent nuclear fuel to make new fuel, the NRA has drafted a review document showing that it has virtually passed the new regulatory standards. I summarized it on the 7th.
The nuclear fuel plant under construction in Rokkasho Village, Aomori Prefecture, is the first commercial plant in Japan to produce nuclear fuel called MOX fuel using plutonium extracted from the spent nuclear fuel of nuclear power plants.
Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited, one of the important facilities of the nuclear fuel cycle policy of the country that reuses nuclear fuel, applied to the Nuclear Regulation Authority for the examination necessary for its operation six years ago.
During the examination, discussions have been held on raising the assumption of earthquake shaking to 700 gal, which is about 1.5 times the initial level, to improve earthquake resistance, and measures against fire.
Then, on the 7th, the Regulatory Commission unanimously compiled a draft examination document showing that the measures indicated by Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited actually passed the examination, saying that they conform to the new regulatory standards.
In the future, it is expected that it will be officially passed through public comments.
The total project cost of the factory is more than 2 trillion yen, and Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited is aiming for completion in the first half of the next fiscal year.
Regarding the nuclear fuel cycle policy, in July, a reprocessing plant that extracts plutonium from spent nuclear fuel also passed the examination, and regulatory procedures are underway at major facilities of the nuclear fuel cycle policy.
However, the completion of all facilities has been significantly delayed, enormous costs have been incurred, and the use of plutonium has not progressed as originally planned, so policies are facing challenges.
Summary of nuclear fuel plant and examination
The nuclear fuel plant, which virtually passed the examination required for the start of operation by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on the 7th, is an important facility of the national nuclear fuel cycle policy to reuse the nuclear fuel used up at the nuclear power plant.
The nuclear fuel plant is adjacent to the reprocessing plant in Rokkasho Village, Aomori Prefecture, and uses plutonium extracted by reprocessing spent nuclear fuel to produce a special fuel called MOX fuel.
This MOX fuel is scheduled to be used again in general nuclear power plants.
In the examination, measures against natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis have been examined for about 6 years to see if the measures against accidents are appropriate, in the same way as the reprocessing plant on the same site.
Regarding the assumption of the shaking of the earthquake, we raised it from 450 gal to 700 gal in the end based on the evaluation of the active fault called "Deto Seiho Fault" that passes through the northeast of the site.
Nuclear fuel plants are characterized by handling powdered radioactive materials such as uranium and plutonium.
For these reasons, it is necessary to make nuclear fuel in a sealed box called a glove box so that radioactive materials do not leak, and Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited has shown measures to improve earthquake resistance, and the Regulatory Commission has evaluated it as appropriate.
In addition, since radioactive substances are handled remotely by a machine inside the glove box, it was assumed that a fire would ignite from the lubricating oil of the machine, such as when an electric cable was cut.
Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited has said that it will deploy multiple fire extinguishing equipment, and in the event of a fire, it has shown measures such as closing ducts through which air can pass so that radioactive materials do not leak out of the factory. I evaluated it.