Provisional Translation

On Revised Mid-Term Implementation Plan for Spent Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing
by the Nuclear Reprocessing Organization of Japan－ Views of the Japan Atomic Energy Commission －March 23, 2022
Japan Atomic Energy Commission
Cabinet Office, Government of Japan
In response to the request by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry as of March 9, 2022
(20220307, Document No.13) 1, the Japan Atomic Energy Commission hereby presents its views on
the revised Mid-Term Implementation Plan for Spent Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing (hereinafter referredto as "the Mid-Term Implementation Plan") which has been applied for approval by the Nuclear
Reprocessing Organization of Japan (hereinafter referred to as "NuRO").
The Mid-Term Implementation Plan specifies the locations, timing and quantity of reprocessingof spent fuel and related activities during the three-year period, FY2022 to FY2024.
The locations indicated are the Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant (hereinafter referred to as "RRP")
and the MOX Fuel Fabrication Plant (hereinafter referred to as "J-MOX"), both owned by Japan
Nuclear Fuel Ltd., (hereinafter referred to as "JNFL"). These and other related facilities are subject tothe safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
With regard to the timing and quantity of reprocessing, it is planned that 70 tons of spent fuelwill be reprocessed to recover 0.6 tons of plutonium in FY2023 and 170 tons reprocessed to recover
1.4 tons in FY2024 based on the operational schedule of RRP and J-MOX. According to theexplanation by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and relevant organizations, this plan wasdeveloped based on the current assumptions of full consumption in pluthermal 2 reactors in FY2026and thereafter. The Commission takes it understandable, considering the situation as it stands at thepresent time. The Commission also recognizes, however, that the operational status of J-MOX andconsumption in pluthermal reactors after FY2024 are uncertain and could be changed depending on
future development.
In light of these circumstances, the Commission requests that the Minister of Economy, Tradeand Industry, on approving the Mid-Term Implementation Plan, provide the necessary and appropriate
instruction and guidance for NuRO and other relevant organizations on the following points to ensure
the peaceful use of nuclear energy and the balance between demand and supply of plutonium.

The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry requested an opinion of the Japan Atomic Energy Commission as per theresolutions accompanying the Act for Partial Revision of the Spent Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing Fund Act.
2 The term “pluthermal” stands for the use of MOX fuel assemblies containing plutonium in thermal reactors.
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1. When NuRO recovers plutonium through reprocessing, it should properly manage thereprocessing volume only to an extent necessary for the aggregate amount of domestic
demand as set out in the "Basic Principles on Japan's Utilization of Plutonium" (declared bythe Commission on July 31, 2018). The power companies are required to make their every
effort to steadily consume the MOX-fuel produced by J-MOX at their domestic reactors.
2. NuRO is required to make revised reports of the Mid-Term Implementation Plan inaccordance with the progress made in specific initiatives, in a timely and appropriate manner.
3. In the execution of the Mid-Term Implementation Plan, NuRO and JNFL should work
together in an efficient and effective manner under appropriate division of roles andimplementation framework, placing the highest priority on safety assurance.
4. JNFL should make an appropriate process management with the highest priority on safetyassurance to ensure the safe and smooth operation of RRP and J-MOX, and should work on
the continuous nurturing and hand-over of technical expertise to the next generation. In
addition, power companies and relevant organizations should provide necessary and sufficienttechnical and human support for JNFL as required.
End2