Comparison and assessment of technical options to fuel Japanese power plants with plutonium from US and Russian retired warheads

This paper compares and assesses various technical options that can be considered in Japan to use plutonium from retired nuclear warheads as fuel. There are several options that have been suggested by research organizations such as Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Corporation and Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute. The paper also discusses institutional and organizational issues associated with possible Japanese use of plutonium from retired warheads. Based on the assessments, the paper concludes: (1) Japan has sufficient technical experiences and facilities; (2) existing FBRs and ATRs are preferred option to burn plutonium from retired warheads than recycling to commercial LWRs; (3) the PROFIT (Plutonium ROck-like Fuel InTegration) proposal made by JAERI is worth considering as a long term option; (4) mixing or swapping with civilian plutonium can be a possible option for Japan since it could minimize changes in Japanese civilian programs; (5) it would be desirable to transfer plutonium from Russia through the third party with which Japan has already a bi-lateral agreement