The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved the abolition plan that the Japan Atomic Energy Agency had applied for the uranium enrichment facility for nuclear power plants that had been shut down 20 years ago.

The facility will be demolished over the next 20 years.

The uranium enrichment facility at the Ningyo-toge Environmental Technology Center of the Atomic Energy Agency in Okayama Prefecture began operation in 1988 as the first facility in Japan to enrich uranium used as nuclear fuel for nuclear power plants, and ended operation 20 years ago. I did.



After that, JAEA made a decontamination to remove radioactive substances adhering to the equipment, and three years ago, it compiled a plan to abolish the facility and applied to the Nuclear Regulation Authority.



At the meeting on the 20th, the Regulatory Commission decided that the plan was appropriate and approved it.



According to the plan, it will take about 20 years to dismantle equipment such as a centrifuge that has concentrated uranium, and the cost will be about 5.5 billion yen.



In addition, it is expected that about 1200 tons of low-level radioactive waste will be generated due to the dismantling, and the disposal destination will be considered in the future.



The uranium enrichment facility of JAEA produced approximately 350 tons of uranium on a trial basis for the purpose of technological development.



Currently, Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited has inherited the technology in Japan and is constructing and operating a concentration facility in Aomori Prefecture.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman "Difficulty inherent in dismantling"

Regarding the approval of the abolition plan of the uranium enrichment facility of JAEA in Okayama Prefecture, Toyoshi Fuketa, chairman of the Nuclear Regulation Authority, said, "In processing facilities such as the uranium enrichment facility, radioactive materials in the form of gas or liquid. We have been dealing with substances. In that respect, there are difficulties inherent in dismantling compared to the abolition of general nuclear power plants, "he said, and expressed his intention to pay close attention to the safety management of dismantling work.