Nuke Info Tokyo No. 136 (May/June 2010)

Monju Restarted for the First Time in 14 Years
Be they sodium leak detectors, radiation leak detectors, or temperature monitors, malfunction of the sensors that indicate that something is amiss has become routine. JAEA acts on the assumption that they are all false alarms. One is reminded of the story of the boy who cried wolf. Who will believe when the alarm is for real?

Monju Restart: CNIC statement
Statement issued by CNIC on May 6, 2010, the day that Monju was restarted.

KK-1 Moves Closer to Restart
The committee concluded that there were no problems regarding insertion of control rods and, with virtually no substantive questions from the committee members, start-up testing of KK Unit 1 was endorsed.

Chugoku Electric’s Unbelievable Lack of Awareness of Safety and Quality Control
On March 30 Chugoku Electric Power Company announced that it had failed to carry out checks on a total of 123 pieces of equipment during past periodic inspections of Units 1 and 2 of its Shimane Nuclear Power Station, located in Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture. On April 30 it updated the number to 506 pieces of equipment.

Uprating Nuclear Reactors Reduces Safety
Uprating is one of many fronts on which Japan’s nuclear safety is being whittled away. Others include extended operation cycles, life extensions for aging reactors and the use of MOX fuel in light water reactors.

Japan to the Rescue of Sellafield MOX Plant
According to NDA’s web site, “Agreement has now been reached between the NDA and the Japanese Utilities on an overall framework for future fabrication of MOX fuel in SMP.

2010 Fiscal Year Electric Supply Plan
Considering the past record, basing the CO₂ emissions reduction plan on the Electric Supply Plan is a recipe for failure.

2010 Plutonium Utilization Plans and Plutonium Holdings
Data should be published by all companies in writing in kilogram units for all separated plutonium, wherever it is held.

Group Intro: Rainbow Kayak Squadron
The Rainbow Kayak Squadron is a group of concerned individuals, including local outdoor guides and people from around Japan. Each member acts voluntarily in the belief that the Kaminoseki Nuclear Power Plant is a personal issue for himself or herself.

News Watch
— Japanese Government frantically trying to win nuclear orders from Vietnam
— MOX fuel departs France
— JNFL fails to recover fallen tile
— Construction of MOX fabrication plant postponed
— MHI to invest in Areva
— TEPCO to Invest in US Nuclear Project
— Nuclear Cooperation with India: Industry trumps Abolition