From: Jed Rothwell <72240.1256@compuserve.com>
Subject: Breeder Reactor Fiasco
Reply-To: Jed Rothwell <72240.1256@compuserve.com>
Organization: Sci.physics.fusion/Mail Gateway
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 19:21:52 GMT

To: >INTERNET:fusion@zorch.SF-Bay.ORG

There is an excellent article in the New York Times, December 20, 1992,
Business Section 3, page 1, titled: "Japan's Nuclear Fiasco." This is about
the Japanese fission breeder reactor project that has been in the news lately
because the Japanese government is importing several tons of plutonium from
Europe in order to power the reactor. The project is the most dreadful fiscal
and technological white elephant in postwar Japanese history, the worst
blunder in the history of MITI, and the worst environmental screw-up since the
Minamata disaster. Plus, if they misplace a few kilos of that plutonium, or
accidently spray it into the air... All Hell will break lose. A speck of it is
enough to cause cancer, and I think 20 or 30 kilos would be enough to
manufacture a fission bomb. Imagine having to keep track of tons of the damned
stuff!

A senior Japanese official who asked not to be identified is quoted, "It is
almost inconceivable that such a good idea would have turned this bad. We
spent the last 20 years building this project, and we'll probably spend the
next 20 killing it."

I like the name of the reactor: Monju, the bodhisattva of wisdom and
intellect.

I note that Steven Jones has been in communication with Dr. Yoshida of the
Japanese Atomic Energy Institute (JAERI). I would be fascinated to hear what
Yoshida has to say about the breeder reactor program. Perhaps he could also
fill us in on the other recent triumphs of Japanese fission and hot fusion
technology, like that nuclear powered ship the Mutsu, which requires boiled
rice and socks stuffed into the reactor to stop leaks, and the recent flurry
of cracked heat exchanger pipes in the fission plants.

JAERI is one of those organizations with a mission and an agenda that might
tend to prejudice it against CF, so I do not think we should not pay much
attention to Yoshida's opinion. If we want a sample of similar opinions, let's
also ask the Minister of Oil in Kuwait, the President of Exxon, and the MIT
Plasma Physics Lab what they think of CF, and let's ask the American Tabasco
Association what they think of lung cancer research. Better yet, let's have a
look at the opinion of neutral, third party, like the conservative Yomiuri
Newspaper, which reported on October 17:

          "[MITI's] decision to study cold fusion shocked the scientists who
     are researching orthodox "hot" fusion, in MITI's Technology Research
     agency. It is no wonder they were surprised; under the auspices of the
     Nuclear Power Division, this group has been spending several trillions of
     yen per year to develop a gigantic hot fusion reactor, the 'JT-60.'

          The Nuclear Power Division had performed cold fusion replication
     experiments for two years, and judged that cold fusion was not suitable
     as a source of energy. When the cold fusion program was announced, the
     Nuclear Power Division retaliated by declaring that, 'the kind of fusion
     energy that the nation has decided to proceed with is hot fusion. Cold
     fusion development is not part of this plan.'

          Taking a dim view of this petty bureaucratic squabble, industry has
     become excited by prospects for cold fusion..."

- Jed


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