I hope that all of you had a good holiday. Since last year, the covid-19 pandemic has caused the cancellation or postponement of countless scheduled events, among which was JAIF’s cancellation of its annual New Year’s Party this season. Globally, vaccinations are now being administered in some countries, and I look forward to an environment where business can be pursued again safely as soon as possible. Recently, beyond the “normal” mix of natural disasters, we have seen an increasing frequency of torrential rains, longer spells of rain, and more flooding, all as a result of increased humidity due to rising seawater temperatures. Reducing greenhouse-gas emissions (GHGs), deemed a major factor in the current situation, is thus vitally important. Last year, the Suga government of Japan de...more

Last year, due to the new coronavirus pandemic, the global economy registered negative growth while energy demand declined. Countries around the world declared their determination for a “green recovery” from the pandemic effects, both environmentally and economically. Japan, too, has placed the creation of a “virtuous cycle” for the environment and economy at the core of its growth strategy, having declared a goal of carbon neutrality by 2050—namely, a carbon-free society. To those ends, in addition to reducing carbon emissions, it is essential to utilize nuclear power owing to its excellent economic efficiency and its ability to provide a stable supply of electricity. It is also strongly hoped that the process toward restarting nuclear power plants in Japan will make consistent prog...more

At a meeting held yesterday, the Nuclear Regulation Authority of Japan (NRA) approved changes to the nuclear material fabrication business (MOX fuel fabrication facility) of Japan Nuclear Fuel Ltd. (JNFL). I want to express my appreciation to JNFL, the NRA and all other involved parties for their efforts up to now. The MOX Fuel Fabrication Plant will produce new fuel using plutonium recovered through the reprocessing of the spent fuel from the country’s nuclear power plants (NPPs). Fuel produced at the facility is intended to be used at 16 to 18 nuclear reactors around the country, including four units that have been restarted since the nationwide shutdown. From the beginning of its nuclear development effort, Japan—dependent on imports for most of its energy resources—has sought to ...more

JNFL made the approval recognizing that the facility, located in Rokkasho Village, Aomori Prefecture, was compatible with Japan’s new regulatory standards under the Law for the Regulation of Nuclear Source Material, Nuclear Fuel Material and Reactors (the Reactor Regulation Law). In July, similarly, the NRA had granted JNFL permission under the law to alter its Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant, at which uranium and plutonium will be recovered from spent fuel and recycled as mixed uranium-plutonium oxide (MOX) fuel for use in light water reactors (LWRs). In the process of approving the MOX Fuel Fabrication Plant, the NRA issued a draft review report on October 7, referring it to the head of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and making it open to the public for comments. A...more