Release
October 30, 2015

Monthly Press Conference

Today, President Kenji Kudo held a monthly press conference in Aomori City and talked about "Status of response to the New Regulatory Requirements" and "Debate about the Nuclear Fuel Cycle business in Intensified Competition".

Status of Response to the New Regulatory Requirements

Regarding examinations on Reprocessing Plant, the review meeting held on October 5 provided explanations on the leakage of radioactive material. At the same time, in order to receive evaluations on whether the countermeasures function effectively, JNFL illustrated the addressed equipment's capacity, quantity, access route, the personnel system for the measures, and other preconditions.

With regard to seismic safety, review meetings on ground motion evaluation policy for the following were held: interplate and oceanic intraplate earthquakes (October 2); the Deto West Fault (October 16); and other marginal terrestrial faults (October 23).

In terms of postulated earthquake scales, JNFL provided explanations on raising the magnitude from 8.3 to 9.0 for interplate earthquakes, and from magnitude 7.2 to 7.4 regarding oceanic intraplate earthquakes. Also the postulated location was moved to the immediate vicinity of the site in the approach on ground motion evaluations and JNFL believes to have obtained understanding.

Some opinions were expressed on the southernmost location of the Shichinohe West Fault, which is approx. 32 km from JNFL's site. JNFL believes to have obtained understanding on other marginal terrestrial faults.
Regarding the Deto West Fault, further explanations will be provided for the adequacy of models serving as the premise of the ground motion evaluation policy.

JNFL will continue to make every effort on each review. However, reflecting upon the conditions of previous reviews, the completion timing for the reprocessing plant set at March 2016 is to undergo reconsiderations.

Debate about the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Business in Intensified Competition

On October 22, the fourth session of the Expert Working Group on the Development of the Environment for Nuclear Business was convened to consider designs for new frameworks, including the new licensee's positioning and the system of governance.
JNFL sees the need to further streamline its management and strengthen its governance. It also believes that maintaining employees' sense of responsibility in dealing with the cycle business carries vital role for advancing the initiative under a safety-first approach.

Aomori Prefecture will be hosting the Nuclear Maintenance Business Opportunity Fair on November 9. This undertaking looks to encourage the prefecture's local businesses to become involved in the maintenance work for nuclear-related facilities in Aomori, and JNFL has been an active participant every year since the Fair was first convened in 2008.