Chapter 1 : Coexistence of Nuclear Energy and People

1. Stronger Demands for a Clearer Reflection of Public Opinion in Nuclear Policy

2. Holding on the Round Table Conferences on Nuclear Policy

3. Various Efforts Toward "the Coexistence of Nuclear Energy and People"

4. For the Attainment of "the Coexistence of Nuclear Energy and People"

Chapter 2 : Development and Utilization of Nuclear Energy in Japan and Overseas

1. Establishment of International Trust Regarding Nuclear Non-Proliferation

2. Safety Assurance

3. Promotion of Information Disclosure and Public Understanding

4. Present and Future of Nuclear Power Generation

5. Nuclear Power Generation Using Light Water Reactors

6. Promotion of Nuclear Fuel Recycling

7. Backend Policies

8. Diversified Development and Reinforcement of Basic Research on Nuclear Science and Technology

9. International Cooperation in the Field of Nuclear Energy

10. Basis for Promotion of the Development and Utilization of Nuclear Energy

11. Future of the Nuclear Industry

　Because Japan has scant energy resources, it depends on other countries for more than eighty percent of its energy demand. Looking at the annual global consumption of primary energy, one sees that it has shot up from only about 100 million toe (ton equivalent of oil) around the middle of last century to about 8 billion toe in 1990. If the consumption of fossil fuels, which are not only very convenient but also the geological products of the earth, continues at the present frantic pace, they are expected to be depleted in just a few hundred years, but an instant in the history of the earth.
　Therefore, the energy problem should be considered not only from a domestic viewpoint of energy supply and demand but also a global one considering the historical point of view.
　As a result of the development and utilization of nuclear energy based on the major principle of strictly adhering to a policy of peaceful use and assuring safety, Japanese nuclear power generation has come to account for about thirty percent of this country's total electricity.
　Japan's main strategy is to secure a table energy supply through the establishment of a nuclear fuel cycle. That is, besides securing a stable supply of uranium resources, recover the newly produced plutonium and residual uranium in the spent fuel for the sake of efficient utilization of uranium resources (nuclear fuel recycling).
　The sodium leakage of the fast breeder prototype reactor "Monju" in December 1995, however, has again raised anxiety about nuclear policy.
　Needless to say, it is important that people living in this country be reassured and have their minds at ease about the development and utilization of nuclear energy. The government has been making efforts in that regard, but still they have not been entirely sufficient. Taking the recent rise in uneasiness among the public concerning nuclear policy, the government has decided to take active measures to cope with it, and new steps have already been taken for the formation of a nationwide consensus concerning nuclear policies.



1. Stronger Demands for a Clearer Reflection of Public Opinion in Nuclear Policy

(1) Sodium Leakage Accident in the Secondary Heat Transfer System of "Monju"

　The sodium leakage accident at the fast breeder prototype reactor "Monju" on December 8, 1995, resulted in a rise in uneasiness among the Japanese people about nuclear policy.
　The sodium leakage occurred in the secondary heat transfer system which does not directly pass through the core of the reactor. Therefore, the radioactive materials did not affect on the environment and the employees. In other words, from the standpoint of disaster prevention, the safety of the nuclear reactor facility was not impaired.
　Nevertheless, sodium leakage did occur, and the Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Corporation(PNC), the entity which installed the "Monju" reactor, handled the accident information inadequately. This caused, unfortunately, considerable concern among the public throughout the country.
　Currently, the Nuclear Safety Commission(NSC) and the Science and Technology Agency(STA) are undertaking a thorough investigation of the causes of the accident and general safety inspection of the plant.


1/ Containment vessel
2/ Reactor vessel
3/ Fuel
4/ Intermediate heat exchanger
5/ Control rods
6/ (Sodium)
7/ Primary heat transfer system (reactor coolant system)
8/ Secondary heat transfer system (intermediate coolant system)
9/ Primary main pump
10/ Secondary main pump
11/ Super heater
12/ Steam water system (steam)
13/ Turbine
14/ Generator
15/ Condenser
16/ To discharge channel
17/ Cooling water (sea water)
18/ Evaporator
19/ Feed water pump
20/ Place of leakage

Fig. 1 Schematic diagram of Fast Breeder Prototype Reactor "Monju"

Fig. 3 10th Round Table Conference on Nuclear Policy (in Tsuruga)

Fig. 4 Submission of Recommendations by the Moderators of
　　　　　Round Table Conference on Nuclear Policy (Oct. 3, 1996)

Fig. 5 Forum on Nuclear Energy with Minister of STA

Fig. 6 "Forum in Aomori"

Fig. 7 Joint Inspection by Japanese Government and IAEA as a Safeguard Measure

Fig. 8 Main Flow of Nuclear Fuel Materials Between Different Nuclear Fuel Cycle Facilities in Japan (1995)

Table.5　Projection of Plutonium Supply and Demand in Japan

Table.6　Separated Plutonium of Japan

　Nuclear Fuel Cycle Safety Engineering Research Facility (NUCEF) where safety research of backend measures is undertaken and used for safety research of criticality of reprocessing facilities

Fig. 9 Research of safety : TRACY (Transient Experiment Critical Facility)

Fig. 10 Sending of Lecturers in Response to Requests for Detailed Answers to Various Questions from the General Public

Fig. 11/ Museum of Future Science and Technology (Shinjuku, Tokyo)

Fig.12/ Home Page of "Genshiro" Electronic Library for Provision of Information by Internet (http://sta-atm.jst-c.go.jp)

Fig. 13 No.6 Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant of the Tokyo Electric Power
　　　　Co., Inc., Which Started Commercial Operation in November 1996

Fig. 14 Steady Growth Over the Years of Annual Generated Output in Japan. In
　　　　FY1995, nuclear power generation accounted for 33.8% of the total electric
　　　　power generation.

Power generation reactors for commercial operation ■In operation　　　　50　　　　42,547,000 kw ▲Under construction　3　　　　　3,361,000 kw	●In preparation　　　2　　　1,925,000 kw
Power generation reactors used for research and development purposes □In operation　　　　1　　　　　　　165,000 kw △Under construction　1　　　　　　　280,000 kw
Total　　　　　　　55　　　　46,353,000 kw	Total　　　　　2　　　1,925,000 kw

Fig. 15 Locations of Nuclear Power Plant Sites in Japan (as of end of November 1996)

Fig. 16　Uranium Enrichment Plant belonging to the Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited at
　　　　Rokkasho Village, Aomori Prefecture. It has been Operating on a Scale of 600 t
　　　　SWU/Year since Day of Commissioning in March 1992

Fig. 17　Reprocessing Plant belonging to the Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited, Under
　　　　Construction at Rokkasho Village, Aomori Prefecture, and Scheduled to Be
　　　　Completed in January 2003

Fig. 18　The Nuclear Fuel Cycle Safety Engineering Research Facility (NUCEF)
　　　　Involved in research on criticality safety, advanced reprocessing proces
　　　　ses and other fields.

Fig. 19　Low-Level Radioactive Waste Burial Center of Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited
　　　　at Rokkasho Village, Aomori Prefecture

Multi-barrier system

The radioactive nuclides from vitrified units are prevented from affecting humans through conveyance by groundwater

Fig. 20　Multi- (Engineered and Natural) Barrier System for Ensuring the Long-Term
　　　　Safety of Vitrified Unit

Fig. 21　Inside the Waste Management Facility

Fig. 22 World's Largest (8 billion electron-volt) Large-Scale Synchrotron Radiation
　　　　Facility (SPring-8), Scheduled for Commissioning in 1997

Fig. 23 JRRM-3 Building (left and right) of the Japan Atomic Energy Research
　　　　Institute, the Performance Has Been Enhanced Through Remodelling

Fig. 24 Heavy-Ion Medical Accelerator in Chiba. (HIMAC), Completed in 1994
　　　　at the National Institute of Radiological Sciences

Fig. 25 Improvement of Pear Species
A species of pear that is resistant to black leaf spot disease has been created by irradiation as an example of species improvement in the field of agriculture.

Fig. 26 Steps Towards the Practical Use of a Fusion Reactor

Fig. 28 Bilateral Cooperation

Testing of anomaly detection system using microphones (Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant, Russia).