Experience in constructing a spent nuclear fuel reprocessing plant in Japan

Towards the end of 1970, Japan Gasoline Co. Ltd. (JGC) and Saint-Gobain Techniques Nouvelles of France received an order for the construction of a reprocessing plant from Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Corporation, as a joint prime contractor. The work executed by JGC in this project is reported and consisted of: (1) Procurement, inspection and schedule control of equipment and materials other than those imported from Europe; (2) Conclusion of contracts with various subcontractors relating to the building construction, piping and other work; and (3) Supervision of field work. The field work began in June 1971 and was completed in about 40 months. The overall field labour mobilized during that time totalled about 410,000 man-days, and 900,000 man-hours were spent by the JGC engineers. With the object of constructing a high-quality plant, JGC since 1969 has started to investigate subcontractors in Japan as well as undertaking the selection, education and training of prospective subcontractors. For the welding work in particular, techniques were imported from France and domestic techniques were developed at the same time. Completion of the blank tests was estimated to require 33 months, but the schedule was delayed about seven months for various reasons. Obviously there is room for many improvements when constructing future nuclear chemical plants. However, careful consideration should also be given from the basic design stage onward, to the methods and sequence of construction so that a simplified plan can be obtained from which the work could be easily executed without resorting to special technology. This would lead to reduction in construction time, and a safer and more reliable plant at lower cost. (author)