CNIC(Citizens' Nuclear Information Center)

Japanese Fast Breeder Reactor Program

Time Line

1985, October: Commenced construction of Monju prototype fast breeder reactor

1994, April: First criticality at Monju

1995, August: First power at Monju

1995, December: Operations at the Monju prototype fast breeder reactor were suspended after a sodium leak and a fire caused by the contact between sodium and air. Although it has not been operational since the accident, Monju has continued to consume large quantities of electricity. For example, electricity consumption in 2004 was 58,533,960 kWh. This electricity is mainly used to heat the sodium to keep it in a liquid state.

2005, May: The Supreme Court overturned a decision by the Nagoya High Court, which had ruled that Monju's license approval was invalid. The Supreme Court's ruling gave the go-ahead for proceeding with the Monju fast breeder reactor program.

2005, September: Modification work commenced. The modifications are designed to fix problems identified after the 1995 accident .

2007, August: Functional tests (plant-confirmation tests) began.

2010, March (within 2009 fiscal year): Government target date for recommencing operations for the first time since the 1995 accident. (The target date has been delayed four times.)

2013, March (within 2012 fiscal year): Government target date for commencing full operations.

2015: Aim to present a "picture of commercialization of the FBR cycle..." by this date.

2025: Demonstration FBR reactor (This date appears to refer to commencement of operations. It is included in a METI report dated May 2006.)

2050: Target date for commercialization of fast breeder reactors.

CNIC Articles and Press Releases

Imminent Monju Restart a Dangerous Gamble (March 5, 2010)

Monju Restart: Like Playing Russian Roulette (NIT 134, Jan/Feb 2010)

Monju Restart Delayed Again (NIT 126 Sep./Oct. 2008)

Monju Plant-Confirmation Tests Begin (NIT 120 Sep./Oct. 2007)

Towards Monju Restart (NIT 119, July/August 2007)

FBR Report: a feasibility study for institutional preservation (NIT 112, May/June 2006)

Can safety be assured in the Monju modifications? (NIT 110, Jan/Feb 2006)

Modification work begins at Monju (NIT 108, Sept/Oct 2005)

Back-sliding on Monju (NIT 107, July/Aug 2005)

Monju: Supreme Court Snubs Citizens (30 May 2005)

Preparations Begin for Monju Reconstruction (News Watch, NIT 105, March/April 2005)

Nuclear Court Cases in Japan (NIT 104, Jan/Feb 2005)

New Nuclear Policy-Planning Council Interim Report: To Reprocess or Not to Reprocess - Four Scenarios (elsewhere translated as Long-Term Nuclear Program Planning Committee)

Developments since Monju Court Decision (NIT98, Nov2003-Feb2004)

Monju ruling at 2003 (NIT93, Jan/Feb 2003)