Nuclear Regulation Authority on Friday recommended Minister
of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Hiroshi Hase, replace
the operational body of the Fast Breeder Reactor named Monju in Fukui. In
short, Japan Atomic Energy Agency was labeled as incompetent in the development
of technology for nuclear fuel recycle. It may lead to dismantlement of a project,
which once a great hope for nuclear village in Japan.
The recommendation strongly questioned qualification of JAEA
as an operational body of Monju. “Time has passed without any achievement after
the accident of sodium leakage in 1995, in spite of various effort for
security,” told the recommendation. NRA was frustrated with JAEA, having no
achievement to take regulative measures, and the Ministry, failing in losing
control on it.
NRA explained why JAEA had to leave. The authority issued
two orders to take security measures in December 2012 and May 2013.
Nevertheless, JAEA has not been in a situation for reconfirming the result of
required measures. “We cannot suppose,” said the recommendation, “that one
unable to take appropriate and firm security measures during the reactors are
not in operation will be able to do that in the time of operation.” NRA
dismissed JAEA’s viability as an operator of nuclear power plant.
NRA also denounced the Ministry in charge of science and
technology. “Although the authority have been urging the Ministry to
appropriately oversee JAEA, no effort was rewarded in terms of making actual
improvement in the activities of the agency,” said the recommendation. Having
said that, NRA required the Ministry to determine the alternative operating
body and make a fundamental review on the facility for nuclear power generation
called Monju within a half year.
When passing over the recommendation, Chairman of NRA,
Shun-ichi Tanaka, told Hase that it would not be easy to find an alternative
body. Although Hase asked advice from the authority, Tanaka did not reply and
finished the dialogue in only three minutes. JAEA has been lazy as if it were
ignoring the requirements from the regulatory body of national government.
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, dealing with
nuclear power generation, does not care about the crisis of nuclear fuel
recycling project, showing no interest in finding an alternative operating body
of Monju. Fast breeder reactor, capable of generating more fissile material
than it consumes, has been a hopeful technology for the nuclear village in
Japan. But, they seem to be awaking from the dream.
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