About Vitrified Waste Storage

Japanese electric utilities (the nine electric power companies and Japan Atomic Power Company) have entrusted a portion of their spent nuclear fuel to reprocessing facilities in France and the United Kingdom.
During the reprocessing process, uranium and plutonium are separated and recovered for reuse as nuclear fuel before being returned to the utilities. At the same time, the radioactive waste generated through reprocessing is also returned to Japan.
High-level radioactive waste is returned in the form of vitrified waste, in which the radioactive materials are immobilized in a stable glass matrix.
The returned vitrified waste is stored at the High-Level Radioactive Waste Storage Center in Rokkasho Village, where it is cooled and safely managed for approximately 30 to 50 years before being transported for final disposal.
Shipments of vitrified waste from France began in April 1995, and by the end of March 2007, a total of 1,310 canisters had been returned to Japan. Returns from France have since been completed, while shipments from the United Kingdom commenced in March 2010.
In addition to high-level radioactive waste, low-level radioactive waste generated through overseas reprocessing will also be returned to Japan.

A transportation cask for vitrified waste canister

Remote inspection room for vitrified waste canister

Lids of storage pits

Vitrified Waste Transportation

When vitrified wastes are transported from overseas, a ship with proven safety, which is specially designed to transport vitrified waste, is used. The ship is equipped with ample safety measures, including double-hull construction in case of collision, fire prevention equipment, and a collision prevention system.

Unloaded from the ship by a large crane, casks are transported by special vehicles through the private road directly linking the port to our Vitrified Waste Storage Center.

Final Disposal

Japan's basic policy for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste is geological disposal, which isolates the waste deep underground to ensure that it does not affect the living environment over the long term.

Following extensive evaluations by governments and international organizations, including assessments of technical feasibility, safety, environmental impacts, and international frameworks, geological disposal has been internationally recognized as the most appropriate method for the long-term management of high-level radioactive waste.

In Japan, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Japan (NUMO) is currently inviting municipalities to participate in the literature survey stage of the site selection process for a geological disposal facility.