RWMC has two pillar missions. One is research and development
for safe radioactive waste management. The other is the fundadministration for reliable implementation of geological disposal.

Since 1976, as a unique research organization dedicated toradioactive waste management in Japan, RWMC has been
conducting a broad array of research and development by utilizing
knowledge of academic and industrial sectors. Through research and development, we have been
contributing to national policy planning, development of safety regulations, and expansion of technicaloptions for the electric utilities and the disposal implementing entities.

Concerning the fund administration, as the designated organization under "the Designated Radioactive
Waste Final Disposal Act", we commenced the administration of the final disposal fund for high-level
radioactive waste in 2000. In addition, we also started managing the final disposal fund for TRU waste(subject to geological disposal) in 2008.

Although the environments surrounding nuclear powers are changing drastically, RWMC reaffirms theimportance of our missions and will fulfill actively our missions contributing to the development of thesociety.

We would appreciate sincerely your further support and cooperation.

TAKETANI Noriaki
President
Radioactive Waste Management Funding and Research Center (RWMC)

In the nuclear fuel cycle, uranium and plutonium are recovered from nuclear fuels (reprocessing) used in nuclear reactors(spent fuels) for reuse as fuels. The various wastes generated in the nuclear fuel cycle are categorized by type andconcentration of radionuclide and by place of generation.

High-level radioactive waste*
Reprocessing plant

Uranium mine*High-level
radioactive waste
Solidified high-level liquid
waste in borosilicate glass after
recovery of reusable uranium
and plutonium**TRU waste
Radioactive waste containing
TRU (transuranic elements
such as Pu, Am and Np)
generated by the reprocessingof spent nuclear fuel andfabrication of MOX fuel. In
general, because TRU waste
has a long half-life andreleases alpha radiation, it isclassified as a radioactive
waste containing TRU
radionuclides.

Low-level radioactive waste

Nuclear Fuel Cycle

Nuclear power plant

TRU waste**Low-level radioactive waste withrelatively high radioactivity

Uranium enrichment andfuel fabrication facility

Low-level radioactive waste
Uranium-bearing waste

Low-level radioactive waste
Nuclear reactor waste

Low-level radioactive waste withrelatively low radioactivity

Low-level radioactive waste withextremely low radioactivity

Radioactive wastes are classified by radionuclide content and concentration, and by originating facility.
Radioactive waste disposal is conducted safely and rationally according to this classification. Disposal concepts areclassified into the following types by disposal depth and the artificial barrier (engineered barrier) enclosing the wastes andaccording to the characteristics of the wastes.

Near-surface trench disposal
Near-surface disposal without artificial components

0m

Near-surface disposal with concrete pit

50m

100m

Intermediate depth disposal
Disposal in extra depth subsurface deeper than 70m
for avoidance of general use of underground space

300m

deeper than 300m
High-level radioactive waste

Radioactivity level
Deep

Geological disposal
Disposal in geological formation with more than
300m depth

Uranium-bearing waste

Near-surface pit disposal

TRU Waste

25m

Nuclear reactor waste

ShallowImplementing entities of disposal / Government / Public
Research on safety requirements and standards
Methods for conﬁrmation of disposal facility, safetyassessment methods, the release from regulation(clearance), safety standards

Research on institutionalization and social response
Basic policy such as executive scenarios, project
implementing system, system for fund administration

Research and development on disposal technology
Construction technology, remote technology, waste
package, waste solidiﬁcation technology and long-term
behavior of engineered barriers

Information services
Collection, analysis and provision of domestic andinternational information

International cooperation
Information exchange and collaborative research withoverseas research institutions and implementing entitites

Promotion of understanding to radioactive waste disposal
Publishing brochures, preparation and exhibition of fullscale demonstrating facility of geological disposal

Dissemination of outcomes
Publishing and informing through the website

In June, 2000, “the Designated Radioactive Waste Final Disposal Act” that prescribes designation of an organization to manage
the final disposal fund was enacted, and in November, RWMC was designated as the organization by METI. Following thedesignation, RWMC newly established “the fund administration division” and started to manage the fund related to high-level
radioactive waste accumulated by Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Japan (NUMO). Along with this, we established“Rules of information disclosure on the fund administration” and “Rules of ethics on the fund administration” to disclose
appropriate information and maintain ethics of the related officers and employees. Furthermore, in April, 2008, RWMC also
started to manage the final disposal funds related to TRU waste subject to geological disposal.

Basic schematic diagram regarding the final disposal fund administration

Financial institutions

Principal, Interest

Government bonds,
Time deposits,etc.

Radioactive Waste Management
Funding and Research Center (RWMC)(designated organization)

Designation andSupervision ofactivities● Formulation of
the basic policy

・Administration of the final disposal fund・Checking whether the reimbursed fund is effectively
used for finaldisposal operations

Payment of theadministrative
expenses

Contract about
the administrationof the final
disposal fundOutsourcing ofadministrationof the final
disposal fund

Reimbursementof the funds
based on therequirements

Nuclear Waste Management
Organization of Japan (NUMO)(authorized implementing entity)・Implementation of final disposal
・Construction, operation, maintenance of the repository
・Selection and investigation of the Preliminary Investigation Areas

Payment into thefinal disposal fundDevelopment of
implementation
plan by NUMO
Approval by therelevant government
minister

Granting of license
for estalishment
of NUMO
Supervision ofactivities of NUMO
Approval required
for the dissolution
of NUMO

Power utilities, etc.
Determination of thefund amountPower supply

Electricity charge(A part of the electricity charge isallotted to the payment to the fund)Electricity consumers

Government(METI)

・Fundamental
strategy for final
disposal・Measures toenhance theunderstanding ofstakeholders● Development of
the final
disposal plan
・Timescale andinventories for the
final disposal
・Location of thePreliminary
Investigation Areas

RWMC started research and development (R＆D) on high-level radioactive waste(HLW) in development of a receiving system
for returning HLW from the overseas reprocessing and feasibility study on management of HLW. Following these projects, we
conducted research on long-term stability of geological structure necessary for geological disposal, study on operating systemof geological disposal. In addition, we have been developing and providing appropriate technical information for national policy
planning, as well as safety standards and regulation for HLW disposal.
After "the Designated Radioactive Waste Final Disposal Act" was enacted in 2000, Nuclear Waste Management Organization ofJapan (NUMO), geological disposal implementing entity, was established to start siting process of geological repository. In
response to this movement, RWMC has been conducting R&D on technologies necessary for the implementation of geologicaldisposal project such as the design, construction and quality control of engineered barriers and other underground components,
operation of the repository, retrieval after waste package emplacement by proceeding with basic tests, development ofelemental technologies, engineering verification at actual scales, and development of analysis technologies.
In addition, RWMC has been conducting fundamental research on important basic technologies with universities.
Regarding TRU waste, "the Designated Radioactive Waste Final Disposal Act" was amended to designate NUMO as animplementing entity of TRU waste disposal in 2007. RWMC also has been conducting R&D on conditioning and disposal
concepts, disposal technologies, and study on basic phenomenon for performance assessment for TRU waste disposal.
Together with these research projects, we also have been conducting projects to promote understanding of geological disposal.

●indicates the ongoing projects

R&D on Engineering Technologies for HLW Disposal
・Remote welding technology of overpack lid closure and non-destructive inspection technology for overpack lid
closure welds
・Manufacturing and emplacement technology of buffer materials
・Structural integrity and corrosion characteristics of overpack closure welds● Study on re-saturation process of buffer materials● Study on quality assurance and performance confirmation technology applied for disposal

facility and development of monitoring equipments● Development of technologies for retrievability● Study on technical feasibility of disposal facility on the coastal area

Specimen for bentonite erosion test of buffer material
at the underground research laboratory (URL)

State of the specimen after bentonite erosion test at the URL
From “Development of verified engineering technology for geological disposal”

Demonstration equipment of emplacement and retrieval

Backfilling test by spraying method
From “Research and development of advanced technology for reversibility and retrievability”

R&D on Engineering Technologies for TRU Waste Disposal● Development of waste package with containment ability for the duration of several hundred

years● Study on gas migration behavior considering long-term alteration of cementitious andbentonitic materials● Development of immobilization technique for anion nuclides (especially I-129) which has

important effect in sefety assessment● Study on release behavior of anionic nuclides (especially C-14) from activated metal waste● Study on natural analogues of bentonitic materials

Laser head

Weld metal

Base metal
Arc torch（Carbon steel）

Weld metal
Base metal
Test piece（Carbon steel）

tion
g direc
WeldinTest equipment of laser-arc hybrid welding for waste package

Cross section of test piece weldedby laser-arc hybrid welding
From “Advanced technology development for geological disposal of TRU waste”

Research on Criteria and Standards
・Classification of TRU waste and safety assessment method
・Scenario in TRU waste disposal● Safety standards for geological disposal

Promotion of Understanding for Disposal Technology
・Publishing brochures for public relation● Open operation of the actual scale test facility to provide realizing, feeling and understanding

disposal concept, engineering feasibility and long-term behavior of geological disposal

Explanation of engineered barrier system using
the full- scale equipments and real material

Open test of buffer material handlingExperimental test of swelling behavior of buffer material

Introduction of buffer material removal technology
related to retrievability

Japan Nuclear Fuel Co., Ltd. Has been conducting disposal projects of low-level radioactive waste (LLW) from nuclear power
plants in Rokkasho-mura, Aomori Prefecture since 1992. Prior to the implementation of these waste disposal projects, RWMC
conducted research and development (R&D) on waste conditioning technologies, waste packaging standards for disposal,
waste inspection and confirmation technology, research on safety assessment. Currently, RWMC is conducting research on
conditioning and disposal systems and technical standards for the disposal with focus on spent control rods and LLW withrelatively high radioactivity generated from decommissioning of nuclear power plants.

●indicates the ongoing projects

R&D on Engineering Technologies for LLW Disposal
・Verification of construction and closing technologies for underground cavern disposal facility
Small size
vibration roller

Soil-based backfill material

Mortar low
diffusion layer

Cement-based fillingmaterial

Side wall

Side wall

Construction test ofcompacted
bentonite buffer
layer in a narrow
space

Concrete backfill material

1m in widthCompacted bentonite
buffer layer
Bentonite buffer layer

Backfilling test withsprayed soil-based
backfill material
Concrete pit

Conceptual illustration of a cavern disposal facility

From “Performance verification test for underground cavern disposal facility”, “Verification test of closure technology for a cavern disposal facility”

g strategy
gy and technology
gy for underground cavern disposal facility● Development of monitoring
100V

UPS

Optical fibers boundto target objects

Fiber optic switch

Spectrum analyzer

System of distributed optical fiber sensing

Data processor

Strain measurement of upper mortar low diffusion layer
From “Function confirmation test for underground cavern disposal facility”

Study on Criteria and Standards● Study on standardization of safety assessment for low-level radioactive waste disposal● Study on standardization of production and inspection method for solidified waste◆ Survey of Radioactive Waste Management Issues○With the purpose of supporting national policy planning andevaluation, RWMC continuously collects and analyzes
information on radioactive waste disposal programs, site
selection, repository concepts, research and development
in foreign countries and provides this information by
establishing a broad data base to the Atomic Energy
Commission, the Agency for Natural Resources andEnergy and other stakeholders.
○For the purpose of supporting safety regulation concerning
radioactive waste disposal, we collect and analyze
information related to legislation, safety regulation and theirbackground in foreign countries, and provide the outcomesto the Nuclear Regulatory Authority.

◆ International Cooperation
1 Cooperation Agreements
Based on cooperation agreements with implementing entities and research organizations of various countries, RWMC
exchanges information on legal frameworks, safety regulations and standards and statuses of disposal projects, and conducts
collaborative research with those international partners.
Germany

Sweden

DBE/DBETecSKBFinlandPosiva/Posiva Solutions

RussiaKorea

RAS

KAERI KORAD

UK
NDA

China
Belgium

CNNC/CNUCJapanSCK CEN

RWMC

FranceSwitzerland

ANDRA

NAGRA

TaiwanNuSTA

Spain
ENERSA

International Cooperation under the Cooperation Agreements

２ International Collaboration
RWMC participates in the following international research
projects to promote cooperation in research and obtainnew research information.
・Steering committee of Grimsel Test Site(GTS) operatedby NAGARA

・Joint work with IAEA on functional extension of Nuclear
Fuel Cycle System Simulation Code・OECD/NEA Horonobe International Project (HIP)◆ Dissemination of Outcomes○RWMC publishes research outcomes in presentations at
academic conferences and scientific papers at academic
journals.
○RWMC provides information from our research throughperiodic newsletters (the RWMC Topics), the Annual
Technical Report and its website.
○RWMC provides technical information through the Annual
Workshop and lecture meetings.

◆ Human Resource Development
RWMC regularly organizes seminars by academic experts for mid-level engineers and researchers to help them understandadvanced knowledge of radioactive waste disposal.

Ginza
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Hotel

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Exit

To
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Radioactive Waste
Management Funding
and Research Center(RWMC)

FamilyMart

No.6
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Ginza Capital
Hotel Akane
7-Eleven
Ginza Capital
FamilyMart
Hotel Moegi

Denny’s

Akashi Elementary
School

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the Sumida River

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St.Luke’s International
Hospital
Tsukiji Hongan-ji

Sumiyoshi Shrine

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Saint Luke’s
GardenTo

St.Luke’s International
University

Nichirei Akashicho Bldg. 12F, 6-4,
Akashicho, Chuo-Ku, Tokyo,
104-0044, Japan

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Tsukiji

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No.7
Exit
To Kachidoki Bridge

To
ToyosuTsukishima

Radioactive Waste Management Funding and Research Center (Nichirei Akashicho Bldg. 12F, 6-4, Akashicho, Chuo-Ku, Tokyo, 104-0044, Japan
TEL +81-(0)3-6264-2111
FAX +81-(0)3-5550-9116
https://www.rwmc.or.jp/

2023.7)