Results and experience of nuclear fuel cycle technology development by PNC: Operating experience with the Tokai Reprocessing Plant

The activities of the Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Corporation (PNC) in the field of the nuclear fuel cycle date back to August 1956, when the Atomic Fuel Corporation (AFC) was first established in Japan. Since taking over all the activities of AFC in October 1967, PNC has continuously extended its operation to such aspects as uranium exploration, mining and refinement, conversion to UF6, uranium enrichment, fabrication of plutonium fuel, reprocessing of spent fuel, and processing and disposal of radioactive wastes. The paper describes briefly PNC's activities in the general nuclear fuel cycle, as well as its experience in operating the Tokai Reprocessing Plant. (author)