Under construction in Aomori, such as TEPCO Interim storage facility “passed examination” Regulatory Commission November 11, 14:34
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has passed the examination of the interim storage facility under construction by TEPCO and others in Aomori Prefecture as conforming to the regulatory standards in order to temporarily store the spent nuclear fuel that continues to accumulate on the site of the nuclear power plant. We have compiled a review report showing that.
The interim storage facility is a facility for temporarily storing spent nuclear fuel that continues to accumulate in the nuclear power plant's storage pool, and is under construction by TEPCO and Japan Atomic Power Company in Mutsu City, Aomori Prefecture.
Six years ago, the NRA examined whether it complied with the new regulatory standards, and in September, it compiled a draft examination document showing a de facto pass.
Then, on the 11th, public comments were discussed to solicit opinions from the general public, and it was reported that there were questions such as whether the container for nuclear fuel could withstand an earthquake or tsunami.
Regarding this, the Regulatory Commission expressed the view that safety can be ensured from the strength of the container, etc., and officially compiled an examination document showing that it passed the examination of regulatory standards.
The interim storage facility has a capacity to store approximately 3000 tons of spent nuclear fuel, and is expected to start operations within the next fiscal year after the countermeasure construction is completed.
Regarding spent nuclear fuel, the capacity of the storage pool is approaching the limit even at the nuclear power plants of other electric power companies, and each company is busy with measures to secure storage facilities.
Interim storage facility and nuclear fuel cycle policy
The interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel is a facility that was not initially envisioned under the "nuclear fuel cycle policy" promoted by the government.
Electric power companies planned to transport the spent nuclear fuel generated by the operation of nuclear power plants all over the country to a reprocessing plant in Rokkasho Village, Aomori Prefecture, for processing.
However, the completion time of the reprocessing plant has been repeatedly postponed due to troubles and scandals, and the current completion schedule is the next fiscal year, so processing is not possible yet.
For this reason, spent nuclear fuel that cannot be transported to reprocessing plants continues to accumulate in the storage pools of nuclear power plants in various regions.
The total capacity of the storage pools of nuclear power plants nationwide, including the nuclear power plants in Fukushima Prefecture, which will be decommissioned, is 21,400 tons in total. Tons are already filled.
When the storage pool was full, fuel could not be removed from the reactor, making it difficult to continue operation, so a new facility for temporary storage of spent nuclear fuel, that is, an interim storage facility, was needed.
The interim storage facility under construction in Aomori Prefecture, which passed the examination on the 11th, is for spent nuclear fuel from TEPCO and Japan Atomic Power Company.
Electric power companies other than these two companies are also working to secure storage facilities, but the problems are more acute for Kansai Electric Power, Kyushu Electric Power, and Shikoku Electric Power, whose nuclear power plants have already restarted after the Fukushima nuclear accident.
Kyushu Electric Power and Shikoku Electric Power have indicated plans to build a new storage facility on the site of the nuclear power plant.
Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. has a policy of creating an interim storage facility in a place other than Fukui Prefecture, where the nuclear power plant is located, like TEPCO, and will indicate candidate sites during this time.
The Governor of Fukui Prefecture is requesting the presentation of candidate sites as a prerequisite for agreeing to restart the nuclear power plant.