Status of JNFL facilities and actions taken after the earthquake

• Immediately after the occurrence of the earthquake, JNFL launched a "company-wide taskforce". This continues at present twice a day, basically in the morning and evening to see if there is any problem with each of the facilities and if there is any change in monitoring results.
• The seismic motion observed at our facilities was approximately 37gal which was less than one tenth of the reference value. Equipment checks at each of the facilities showed no major consequences.
• Immediately after the earthquake, power supply from commercial power (off-site power) stopped and switched to emergency power. However, commercial power supply was back on line on March 15. At present, plant operation is limited to what is necessary, with the aim of reducing electricity consumption as minimum as possible. All safety-critical equipment is operating without any problem.
• Radiation doses around the facilities have not changed before and after the earthquake, and remains to be at their normal values.
• An extremely small trace of Iodine 131 was detected yesterday. Since there are no anomalous releases of radioactive material from our facilities, we do not think that it is attributable to us.

Safety measures for JNFL facilities

• The spent fuel has been cooled about 13 years on average in our Spent Fuel Receiving and Storage Facility of the Reprocessing Plant after the end of use at the nuclear power plants. The heating value per fuel assembly is very low, i.e. approximately 1/1000 of those removed immediately after at the power plants. Even if it becomes impossible to cool the pool water due to some problem, the pool water temperature will not rise sharply.
• The pool water cooling equipment is an air-cooling system, unlike that of a nuclear power station. Even if this cooling system fails, a backup system is in place. Moreover, even if the pool water decreases, it can be filled up from reserved water tanks.

• Even if commercial power supply stops, electricity can be supplied to the necessary equipment from emergency diesel generators. Should all of these emergency diesel generator becomes inoperable, large-sized power supply cars are available to cool the pool water. Following this earthquake, additional power supply cars will be procured.
• If the cooling systems fail or power sources are lost, because the fuel pool is located at the ground level, it is possible for any of our three portable fire pumps and two fire trucks can inject water directly into the fuel pool from three water tanks.

• As for the "tsunami assessment" of the Reprocessing Plant, the plant site is located approximately 55m above the sea level and 5km away from the seashore. We think that the safety of the facilities will not significantly be affected by tsunami. The national government also determined it appropriate in December last year.
• Each of the Uranium Enrichment Plant, the Low-level Radioactive Waste Disposal Center, and the Vitrified Waste Storage Center is equipped with emergency power supplies. Should all of these power supplies be disrupted, their safety will not be affected.

Emergency component and equipment inspection and emergency response training

• JNFL has confirmed through the inspections conduced with respect to each of the facilities after the earthquake that the safety of each facility has not been affected. Taking into account the significance of the event that occurred at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, however, "emergency inspection of emergency equipment and components" will be conduct such as the emergency diesel generators that will be necessary when commercial power supply is lost and portable fire pumps and water tanks that will be used even when such equipment fails.
• Also, "emergency response training" will be conducted including but not limited to training in anticipation of failure of commercial and emergency power supplies, training to restore power supply by connecting with power supply cars, and training to secure the way of injecting water into the spent fuel pool from fire trucks and others. The above-mentioned inspection and training will be conducted in April.

Status of support in Fukushima Prefecture

• Since March 13, JNFL have sent 88 employees, including our industrial doctors and nurses, to Fukushima Prefecture. A team of approximately 30 members is providing medical support and performing radiation surveys and environmental monitoring for evacuees at all times. In addition, we have sent our engineers to the head office of Tokyo Electric Power Company, and provided materials and equipment, such as radiation survey instruments and protective clothing to the Fukushima site.

Future of the Reprocessing Plant

• The installation of thermometer to the A-line Melter of the vitrification system has been completed, so have the restoration of the High-Active Liquid Waste Concentrator. The earthquake occurred just when to start preparing to heat up the Melter toward the "prior verification testing on the B-line Melter."
• JNFL would like to begin the "prior verification testing on the B-line Melter" after having a clear picture of the future of nuclear energy and electricity supply and demand. Depending on the circumstances, JNFL may consider accelerating the replacement of the Coupler of the A-line Melter and statutory inspection of boilers and others.
• The accident that occurred at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station created anxieties not only in Japan, but also all over the world. It would be very difficult to restore confidence in nuclear energy.
• On the other hand, it remains a major challenge for resource-limited Japan to ensure stable energy supply. The importance of nuclear energy and the significance of the nuclear fuel cycle are unshakable.
• Under these circumstances, what JNFL should do now is to operate and manage facilities to move forward a little bit at a time.