Information from Japan: experience in nuclear energy application, prospects and plans

History of the Japanese nuclear power engineering development is briefly presented. In 1985 there were 32 commercial reactors in operation, their total capacity being 25000 MW(e) which made up 16% of electrical capacity of all the electric power stations. In 1985 the capacity factor made up 76%. To standardize the improvement of station design and reduce the construction time works are conducted, related to ABWR and APWR development. A great attention is paid to safety questions and nuclear fuel cycle development. Currently the spent nuclear fuel reprocessing is performed at the Tokai plant, its capacity making up 0.7 t of fuel a day. By the year of 1995 it is planned to put into operation another reprocessing plant in the north of Honshu island with 800 t per year capacity