Provisional Operation Plans for Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant and MOX Fuel Fabrication Plant (Possible Annual Quantities of Reprocessing and Plutonium for MOX Fuel Fabrication)

The Nuclear Reprocessing Organization of Japan (NuRO) requested JNFL to prepare a five-year provisional operation plan of the possible capacities of JNFL's reprocessing plant and MOX fuel fabrication plant in order to consider the revision of Mid-Term Implementation Plan for Spent Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing. JNFL, therefore, investigated the technically achievable capacities of both plants from FY2024 to FY2028, considering the outlook for the plant operation and the replacement of vitrification melters and others with top priority on safety and stable operation, and developed operation plans as shown in the tables below.

The final operation plans of Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant and MOX Fuel Fabrication Plant are a future Mid-Term Implementation Plan for Spent Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing, which is formulated by NuRO, considering a balance between demand and supply of plutonium in accordance with “the Basic Principles on Japan's Utilization of Plutonium” (July 31, 2018, Japan Atomic Energy Commission Decision) and approved by Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.

JNFL announces its plans in order to enhance the transparency of discussions on the utilization of plutonium.

1. An Operation Plan for Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant (Possible Annual Quantity of Reprocessing)

Where

*1: ton U_Pr means converted mass in tons of metallic uranium before irradiation

*2: ton Pu_total means total mass in tons of Pu isotopes

(Note)

1. In FY2024, no shearing of spent fuels will be conducted because solutions and waste liquids currently in the main process of the reprocessing plant have to be treated first. The reprocessing involving shearing of spent fuels will start in FY 2025.
2. After the start of shearing, JNFL will gradually increase the quantity of reprocessing, and introduce advanced vitrification melters. Thus the quantity of spent fuel reprocessing will gradually increase to the maximum annual quantity of 800 ton UPr by FY2031, while giving top priority to safety and stable operation.
3. JNFL will replace the vitrification melters in the RRP in a planned manner before they reach their lifetimes. The RRP has two operation lines of vitrification melters. The vitrification melter in the first line will be replaced from FY2027 to FY 2028, and the one in the second line will be replaced later. In order to ensure the safe replacement work, JNFL will suspend both melters when each melter is replaced. Therefore, reprocessing quantity will decrease in FY2027.
4. The figures for plutonium recovery may fluctuate depending on the types of reprocessed spent fuel and timing of reprocessing and others. The figures are rounded to one decimal place.

2. An Operation Plan for MOX Fuel Fabrication Plant (Possible Annual Quantity of Plutonium for MOX Fuel Fabrication)

Where

*3: ton Pu_total means total mass in tons of Pu isotopes

(Note)

1. MOX fuel fabrication will start in FY2026, following operation training and quality confirmation tests after the completion of the plant.
2. Possible MOX fuel fabrication quantity means the quantity of plutonium fabricated into MOX fuel in each fiscal year, when uranium-plutonium mixed oxide obtained by reprocessing is fabricated into MOX fuel consecutively. The figures may fluctuate depending on the types of reprocessed spent fuel and timing of reprocessing and others.
3. MOX fuel fabrication quantity in the table is rounded to one decimal place.