Conference for Fast Breeder Reactor
Development in Japanese government released its development plan of building a
new reactor to succeed the project of Monju, which had been failing and fated
to be dismantled. Learning nothing from failed project of Monju, for which
Japanese government spent ¥1 trillion and 20 years, nuclear village of Japan still
insists on survival of nuclear recycle project. They are happy enough in
pouring time and money into unrealistic plans.
The conference is presided by Minister of Economy,
Trade and Industry, Hiroshige Seko, with participation of Minister of
Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan Atomic Energy Agency,
Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan or Mitsubishi Heavy Industry.
In short, they are making an interest group on nuclear power generation.
Development of nuclear reactor is evolving
from experimental reactor to prototype reactor and further to proven reactor.
The project of prototype reactor Monju worked only 220 days, since it started
its operation in 1994, due to consecutive and unexpected accidents.
Nevertheless, the interest group of nuclear power generation is stepping
forward to proven reactor, even if the technological basis for proven reactor
is not proven.
One can see a kind of hidden interest in survival
of nuclear recycle project. Japan still has no place to stock used nuclear
fuels produced from nuclear power plant. Nuclear recycle was expected to settle
the problem with an unrealistic concept of permanent recycle of nuclear fuels.
If nuclear recycle project is broken up, resumption of a number of nuclear
power plant will be disturbed, damaging management of power generation
companies in Japan.
Nuclear village in Japan relies on
development project in France to extend the life of fast breeder reactor
project. Japanese government has been appealing that it will maintain
development of fast breeder reactor by cooperating with ASTRID project in France,
which hopes to start its operation in 2030. But, that attitude proves Japan’s inability
to deal with nuclear waste by itself.
Japan possesses 48 metric tons of plutonium
produced in nuclear power plants, the amount which worth making six thousands of
atomic bombs. If it keeps that amount of plutonium, Japan will not only be criticized
by international community that tries to improve non-proliferation regime, but may
give good reason for neighbor nations, such as North Korea or China, to enhance
their nuclear developments. Nuclear interest groups only see the world within 10
meters periphery around them.
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