JAPAN NUCLEAR FUEL LIMITED

July 7 1998

Press Release Concerning the Start of Test Operations at the RE-2C Production Facility at the Rokkasho Uranium Enrichment Plant Scheduled for FY1998

Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited

JNFL currently operates the RE-1 (600tSWU/a) production facility which was built during the first phase of construction and the RE-2A (150tSWU/a) and the RE-2B (150tSWU/a) production facility which were build during the second phase of construction, at the Rokkasho Uranium Enrichment Plant. Construction work on the first half of the RE-2 (450tSWU/a) production facility which was begun in September 1993 is now complete, and test operation of RE-2C (150tSWU/a) is scheduled to begin on 8 July 1998. Full-scale operations are expected to begin in October 1998.

[Reference]

In test operations, the uranium hexafluoride (UF6) will be placed into a centrifuge. Production capacity will be tested while checking the state of the centrifuges.

Chronology of Rokkasho Uranium Enrichment Plant Operations to Date

Phase I (RE-1 [600tSWU/a])

1987

May

Application to operate nuclear fuel manufacturing business filed

1988

August

Permission to operate nuclear fuel manufacturing business granted

October

Construction of RE-1 uranium enrichment plant begins

1992

March

Operations at RE-1A (150tSWU/a) begin

December

Operations at RE-1B (150tSWU/a) begin

1993

May

Operations at RE-1D (150tSWU/a) begin

1994

September

Operations at RE-1C (150tSWU/a) begin

Phase II (Stage 1 of RE-2 [450tSWU/a])

1992

July

Application to expand nuclear fuel manufacturing business filed

1993

July

Permission granted

September

Construction of RE-2 uranium enrichment plant begins

1997

October

Operations at RE-2A (150tSWU/a) begin

1998

April

Operations at RE-2B (150tSWU/a) begin


Home Page