Development of technology related to nuclear fuel cycle

Since Japan lacks energy resources, in order to effectively use uranium for nuclear power generation and to heighten the stability of electric power supply by nuclear power, it aims at the establishment of the system for utilizing recovered resources such as plutonium. For effectively utilizing plutonium and others, the development of the technology of fuel reprocessing and recovered resource utilization is important. As to the reprocessing, the Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Corp. operates at present the reprocessing plant of 210 t/year capacity, and Japan Nuclear Fuel Service Co. promotes the construction of a large commercial reprocessing plant of 800 t/year capacity. As to the effective utilization of recovered resources, the accumulation of technology is advanced as the preparation for the full scale use in future. Hitachi group exerts effort for the development of high corrosion resistance technology in order to ensure the long term stable operation of reprocessing plants. Besides, the technology of utilizing mixed oxide fuel is being developed, and the main facilities for producing the fuel for fast breeder reactors were manufactured and delivered. (Kako, J.)