Data: Japan’s Separated Plutonium Inventory (as at 2008)
On September 8, the Atomic Energy Commission published Japan’s inventory of separated plutonium for the end of 2008 (see tables below: page 1, page 2,page 3). The data for plutonium held overseas at the end of 2007 was only given in 100 kg units. In response to CNIC’s demands, the data for 2008 was provided in kg units as in previous years.
The reason why the figure for plutonium held in the UK has increased is presumably because THORP resumed operation after a long delay. The reduction in France is due to nuclear loss (beta decay of Pu-241 to Am 241).
Tokai’s reprocessing contracts for Japan’s electric power companies were completed in 2005, so no plutonium was separated in 2008.
The amount of separated plutonium at the Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant has reached 3,604 kg. Due to problems with the vitrification facility the plant is out of operation until at least October 2010. However, given that JNFL’s MOX fuel fabrication plant will not begin operating until 2015 at the earliest, it is likely that a large quantity of separated plutonium will be stored at Rokkasho for some time.
The 340 kg of MOX fuel shipped out of the JAEA Plutonium Fabrication Facility corresponds to the same quantity received at Monju. JAEA began loading replacement fuel on June 24 this year (see NIT 131).
Hideyuki Ban (CNIC Co-Director)
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