Image Credits: The Mainichi
Aomori Prefecture is set to finalize a safety agreement to facilitate the operation of a groundbreaking interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel in Mutsu City. Governor Soichiro Miyashita announced on Monday that the prefecture is poised to sign the agreement with the city of Mutsu and Recyclable-Fuel Storage Co., the facility’s operator, potentially as early as August 9.
This facility will mark Japan’s first instance of storing spent nuclear fuel outside the confines of a nuclear plant site, a milestone in the country’s approach to nuclear waste management. The interim storage site is designed to house spent nuclear fuel temporarily, pending its transfer to a long-term reprocessing plant.
Recyclable-Fuel Storage Co. anticipates beginning operations by September, contingent upon the completion of a pre-operation inspection by the Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA). Governor Miyashita emphasized the significance of receiving assurances from both the central government and the facility operator regarding the safety and reliability of the interim storage process. This assurance played a crucial role in the prefecture’s decision to proceed with the agreement.
The governor’s recent meeting with Economy, Trade, and Industry Minister Ken Saito on July 23 addressed a pivotal concern: the future of the spent nuclear fuel post-storage. Minister Saito assured that the government is considering the feasibility of transferring the spent fuel to Japan Nuclear Fuel Ltd.’s reprocessing plant in Rokkasho Village, also located within Aomori Prefecture. This clarification was instrumental in securing the prefecture’s agreement to proceed.
The NRA’s approval follows rigorous screening tests conducted last August under the new regulatory standards, further validating the facility’s compliance with safety protocols. The forthcoming agreement underscores a critical step in Japan’s evolving nuclear waste management strategy, reflecting a concerted effort to balance energy needs with environmental and safety concerns.