May 31, 2013

Monthly Press Conference

Today, President Kawai held a monthly press conference in Aomori City and talked about the "Status of the Reprocessing Plant" and "Submission of Public Comments concerning the New Regulation Standards".

"Status of the Reprocessing Plant"

  • The vitrification tests for System A were completed satisfactorily on May 26. The glass melter is currently in the draining process of glass.
  • The tests confirmed that the facility can sustain stable operation, with parameters such as glass temperature, gaseous temperature at the furnace top and temperature at the furnace base staying within their respective control target ranges. It was also confirmed that the plant is capable of processing approx. 70 liters of waste liquid per hour, which is the design-basis maximum processing capacity.
  • When the melter is drained, JNFL will conduct in-furnace observation, examine operation data obtained from the tests in details and combine the findings with the results of the tests on System B, which was completed in early January, to compile a report to be submitted to the Authority.
  • The completion of the vitrification tests on System A signifies that all the items that need to be tested before the facility's pre-operation inspection have been verified. It has already been confirmed that all the work has been carried out according to relevant permits. The only remaining task is a performance check under the pre-operation inspection concerning the facility's processing capacity.

"Completion of the vitrification tests"

  • JNFL is pleased and proud to have completed the vitrification tests on System B and System A as planned.
  • JNFL went through hardships on vitrification over five and a half years, and decided to go back to the basics four and a half years ago. For two years, thorough verification studies were conducted at the mock-up facility in Tokai Village to make reconfirmations from the basics. This experience led to the development of techniques for temperature control and operation control, providing facility improvements as well.
  • It has not been easy road, but JNFL is happy to have made it this far. All the on-site personnel have put true efforts into the process.
  • For example, JNFL has reached the stage whereby it can identify, to a certain extent, the behaviors of platinum group elements in the furnace, e.g. various patterns of temperature changes and interpolar resistance readings. The buildup and sedimentation of platinum group elements are being prevented, which is very significant.
  • JNFL wishes to express its gratitude to all the parties concerned as well as all the local people who have supported its operations until now.

"Submission of Public Comments concerning the New Regulation Standards"

  • JNFL has submitted the following opinions concerning the draft guide on seismic safety standard review and other aspects of the New Regulation Standards as its public comments:
    • Out of all the review guides presented, the "review guide (draft) concerning geological and geostructural surveys" appears too focused on tectonic geomorphological surveys.
    • Despite the fact that various surveys have already confirmed the absence of any active faults, the draft guide demands that any tectonic movements in specific areas be assumed as active fault and examined, and that the licensee are required to provide academic information about how the geomorphing occurred.
    • Tectonic geomorphology merely examines ground movements. Various surveys must be conducted to determine whether there is a fault underneath. Ground movements must be comprehensively assessed with geophysical surveys such as geological ground survey, geostructural survey, seismic reflection survey and gravity prospecting, rather than focusing excessively on tectonic geomorphological surveys.
  • In the future, the opinions of experts from a diverse range of fields should be examined and reflected to the Regulation Standards. JNFL strongly requests that the opinions of licensees be taken into account just as much.