Current status and future view of the fast reactor cycle technology development in Japan

The "Fourth Strategic Energy Plan" of Japan was approved by the Cabinet in April 2014. It states that nuclear energy is an important base-load power source as a low carbon and quasi-domestic source even after the TEPCO's Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station accident (1F accident), and Japan promotes nuclear fuel cycle in terms of the efficient use of resources and volume reduction and mitigation of degree of harmfulness of high-level radioactive waste and carries out fast reactor (FR) cycle R&D for the commercialization, taking advantage of international cooperation. Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) is conducting several R&D activities for the commercialization of FR cycle primarily focusing on 1) the reduction in volume and toxic level of radioactive waste and 2) the improvement of the safety of FRs and utilizing international cooperation with bilateral frameworks such as ASTRID program with France and multilateral frameworks such as the Generation IV International Forum (GIF). In the nuclear fuel cycle R&D, SmART cycle project to conduct a small-scale minor actinide (MA) recycling using existing facilities is in progress. Regarding the Experimental FR Joyo, JAEA completed the replacement work for the damaged upper core structure (UCS) and it is preparing to make an application for earlier restart under the new regulatory requirements developed based on lessons learned from the 1F accident. Meanwhile, the Council on FR Development was established in September 2016 to discuss and prepare a draft paper on policies concerning the future development of FRs in Japan. Based on the result, the Inter-Ministerial Council for Nuclear Power (Inter-Ministerial Council) made decision on the new policy for FR development in Japan and it states that a strategic roadmap will be compiled in 2018 for the realization of the policy. The Inter-Ministerial Council also decided that Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor Monju will not resume operation as a reactor and will be decommissioned. (author)