FEPCO announces MOX program for Japanese NPPs

On February 21, Chairman of the Federation of Electric Power Companies (FEPCO) announced the development of the 'Pu-thermal' (MOX utilization in light water reactors) program to be carried out by 11 companies that operate nuclear power plants in Japan. In the wake of the cabinet approval of the national nuclear policy on February 4, the utility presidents released the contents of their decisions, confirming the steady advance of the Pu-thermal program and the measures for spent fuel, together with the reprocessing project currently underway. Tokyo Electric and Kansai Electric will commence Pu-thermal operations in 1999 with one plant each, and add a second plant in the following year, respectively. 16 to 18 Pu-thermal plants of all the companies will be operational by 2010. The companies do not see the higher cost of MOX fuel as a significant factor, as fuel cost is only about 20% of the total cost of nuclear power generation. Concerning the safety, the test made so far revealed no problem. Tokyo Electric and Kansai Electric will make the presentations to three siting prefectures of Fukushima, Niigata and Fukui concerning the commencement of Pu-thermal operations. Prime Minister asked the governors to cooperate on the fuel cycle policy, and other moves related to the Pu-thermal operations are reported. (K.I.)