Today, President Kawai made monthly press conference in Aomori City and talked about the emergency safety measures of the Reprocessing Plant, and the Prior Confirmation Test on Vitrification Facility.

• Although one and a half months have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake, our hearts are still with the people who were affected by the earthquake. As a professional involved in the nuclear industry, I am deeply concerned about the suffering people who were forced to evacuate due to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident. I sincerely pray and hope that cold shutdown will be achieved for reactor cores as early as possible.
• JNFL has sent assistance and support to Fukushima, focusing mainly on screening and environmental monitoring work. 30 workers are always dispatched from JNFL, and up to now, total of 220 workers has been involved in assistance and support. JNFL intends to continue and maximize various methods of support.

Emergency safety measures of the Reprocessing Plant

• The accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station occurred due to a total loss of power caused by the effects of the tsunami. Considering this fact, the national government has given 6 instructions, including emergency safety measures during a "total loss of AC power."
• Since the Reprocessing Plant is located 5km from the coast on land which is 55m above the sea level, it wouldn't be affected by a tsunami.
• As for offsite power, the Reprocessing Plant receives power from Tohoku Electric Power Company through two transmission lines. This secures the ability to operate the Reprocessing Plant, even if reduced to one line.
• Furthermore, the Reprocessing Plant has five diesel generators on site in case offsite power is lost, including Spent Fuel Receiving and Storage Facility. It is extremely unlikely that these would all be rendered inoperable due to a tsunami.
• However, considering the effects of the earthquakes on March 11 and April 7, JNFL began autonomous training on response to total AC power loss at the Reprocessing Plant.
• In the event of total loss of AC power at the Reprocessing Plant, the cooling ability of radioactive material decay heat removal equipment must be maintained. At the same time, the secure prevention of gradual hydrogen buildup due to water radiolysis is needed. Therefore, the power needed for the Reprocessing Plant itself will be sent by stationed power source trucks. This will secure cooling ability for vessels, and air injection for the ability to prevent hydrogen buildup.
• As for the Spent Fuel Storage Pool, water will be injected by fire engines or portable pumps, from sources such as water towers and fire hydrants.
• Training on April 21 was implemented with these issues in mind. In the future, manuals for these situations will be firmly re-evaluated.
• In order to further enrich the current power securing measures, two more power source trucks of the same capacity as our currently stationed power source trucks are supposed to be prepared within this fiscal year. Additionally, a backup emergency diesel generator alongside our two emergency diesel generators will be installed at the Reprocessing Plant and the Spent Fuel Storage Pool respectively, as a mid-to-long-term measure.
• Taking the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident seriously as an important lesson, JNFL has set up an internal "Deliberation Committee" among other measures in reviewing our current emergency safety measures. JNFL exerts all possible efforts to allow people to feel secure about.

Prior Confirmation Test

• The time of commencement for Vitrification Facility prior confirmation test will be deliberated after advancing efforts on emergency safety measures, as well as considering the state of power demand for this summer.
• Therefore, using the period before test commencement, JNFL intend to perform work such as replacement of the connection equipment of A-line Melter, as well as inspections for statutory boiler and cranes. This will ensure that the whole schedule will not be affected.