Unofficial Translation

The Status of Plutonium Management in Japan
21 July 2015

Secretariat of the Atomic Energy Commission
Cabinet Office1.

Preface(1) About this report
This is a report on the current status of plutonium management in Japan. In
recognition of the importance of securing nuclear non-proliferation throughout
research, development and utilization of nuclear energy, the Japanese
Government has strictly controlled all nuclear materials and activities, putting
it under the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) safeguards inaccordance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Especially forplutonium, the Japanese Government has firmly maintained the principle of notpossessing plutonium reserves whose purpose of utilization is unspecified. Inorder to assure its transparency domestically and internationally, Japan has
published the status of plutonium management including usage and stockpile
both within and outside Japan since 1994. Japan has also annually reported thestatus to the IAEA in conformity with the “Guideline for the Management of
Plutonium.”(2) Overview of the status of separated plutonium management
As of the end of 2014, the total amount of separated plutonium both managed
within and outside of Japan was approximately 47.8 tons, approximately 10.8
tons of which was held domestically and the rest of approximately 37.0 tons washeld abroad.
The stockpile held abroad was separated from spent fuel of Japanese nuclear
power plants in reprocessing facilities in the UK and France under contracts withJapanese electric utilities. ①Reprocessing of spent fuel which was consigned toFrance has been completed and approximately 16.3 tons of separated plutonium
is held there at of the end of 2014. ②In the U.K, approximately 20.7 tons ofseparated plutonium is held including approximately 0.7 ton which was separated
and added to the stock in 2014. Approximately 1 ton of plutonium from theremaining spent fuel consigned to the U.K. will be separated and added to thestockpile by 2018, when the reprocessing facility in the U.K. is scheduled to beclosed.
1

Unofficial Translation

The Status of Separated Plutonium Management<Unit: t Pu>
As of the end of theyear 2013

As of the end of theyear 2014

47.1

47.8

10.8

10.8

36.3

37.0

U.K.

20.0

20.7

France16.3

16.3

Total (domestic and overseas inventories)
Domestic
Breakdown(Total)Overseas

Breakdown(3) Safeguards Statement for 2014
The IAEA Board of Governors in June 2015 concluded that “the Secretariat foundno indication of the diversion of declared nuclear material from peaceful nuclear
activities and no indication of undeclared nuclear material or activities.” (broader
conclusion) in Japan based on IAEA safeguards activities implemented during 2014.
2.

The Current Status of Plutonium Management in JapanThe status of separated plutonium management in Japan as of the end of theyear 2014 is given on the separate sheet attached herewith. The amounts ofplutonium in tables are given in kilograms unless otherwise mentioned. Figures inbrackets are the data published last year.

3.

Notes on the Data in the Attachment“Separated plutonium held in Japan” is plutonium that has been separated at
reprocessing facilities and held for loading into nuclear reactors including the following
facilities:
1) Reprocessing facilities: in the status of plutonium nitrate in the separationand purification processes, or of plutonium oxide both in the co-conversion
process and in containers.
2) Fuel fabrication facilities: plutonium oxide held as raw materials, in thestage of testing or fabrication, or contained in newly fabricated fuel.
3) Nuclear reactors and other facilities: plutonium oxide contained in unirradiated new fuels held at Joyo, Monju and commercial reactor sites(this includes the fresh mixed oxide fuels unloaded from the reactor core),2

Unofficial Translationand that used for research or held as both irradiated and un-irradiatedfuels for critical facilities at research and development facilities.
“Separated plutonium held abroad” is plutonium that has been separated byreprocessors in the U.K. and France under contracts with Japanese electric utilities,
but not yet returned to Japan. Basically, this plutonium is to be fabricated into mixed
oxide fuels overseas and be utilized at light water reactors (LWRs) in Japan.
Whereas “Separated plutonium held in Japan” given in Section 1 of the
Attachment is the amount of plutonium held at a specific point in time (i.e. at the endof the year 2014), “Separated plutonium in use” given in Section 2 is the amount of
plutonium in various stages of utilization.
Also attached are the following five references.
[References]
Reference 1
Reference 2
Reference 3
Reference 4
Reference 5

The amount of plutonium held and loaded in nuclear reactors andother facilities in Japan at the end of the year 2014.
The balance of separated plutonium held in Japan at the end of theyear 2014.
The Status of Separated Plutonium in Japan (2014) (illustration)
The amount of plutonium held in Japan to be published by the IAEA in
accordance with the Guidelines for the Management of Plutonium.
The amount of plutonium held in each country at the end of the year
2013 published by the IAEA in accordance with the Guidelines for theManagement of Plutonium.

3Unofficial Translation

Attachment
The Status of Separated Plutonium Management in Japan as of the End of the Year 2014
1. Separated plutonium in storage
Figures in brackets are the data published last year for the end of year 2013

Reactors and Other
Facilities

Fuel fabrication Facilities

Reprocessing Facilities(1) Separated plutonium held in Japan<Unit: kg Pu>

Plutonium nitrate, etc. (Dissolved into nitricacid for reprocessing)Plutonium oxide (held as mixed oxide incontainers)

Breakdown(Note 1)

Total

Fissile Plutonium

Japan Atomic
Energy Agency(JAEA)
Reprocessing
Plant

Japan Nuclear
Fuel Limited(JNFL)
Reprocessing
Plant

Total

577(664)284(283)862(947)131(84)

3,329(3,329)

3,460(3,412)

709(748)467(496)

3,613(3,611)
2,348(2,347)

4,322(4,359)
2,815(2,843)

JAEA
Plutonium Fabrication Plant
Plutonium oxide (held in plutonium oxide
containers)
Plutonium in the stage of testing or
fabrication
New fuel, etc. (held as finished fuelassemblies, etc.)

Breakdown(Note 2)

Total

1,974(1,937)
983(981)446(446)
3,404(3,364)
2,361(2,333)

Fissile Plutonium

Un-irradiated new fuel held at nuclear reactor sites, etc.

134
(134)

31
(31)

2,501
(2,501)444(444)(Note ３)

3,109(3,109)

Total

Total

Monju

Commercial
Reactors

R&D Facilities

Joyo

Fissile Plutonium

2,133(2,133)

Fissile Plutonium

10,835(10,833)
7,310(7,309)(Note 1)

Changes of the figures may occur not only from the conversion of plutonium nitrate into plutonium-oxides, butalso from possible samplings for analysis and inspection purposes and the transfer between the reprocessing,storage and fabrication facilities.
(Note 2) Changes of the figures may occur not only from the material flows in the course of the fuel fabrication
processes, but also possible from the movements of materials between material balance areas in a facility
caused by reuses of out-specification products, storing of new fuels.
(Note 3) “R&D Facilities” includes critical assemblies and other R&D facilities.

4

Unofficial Translation(2) Separated plutonium held abroad
This is the plutonium that was separated by reprocessors in the U.K. and France under the reprocessing contracts
with Japanese electric utilities. Basically, this plutonium is to be fabricated into mixed oxide fuels overseas, imported
into Japan for use in light water reactors (LWRs). Thus, “Separated plutonium held abroad” should not be a concern
from the peaceful use point of view. However, for the sake of better transparency, the current status of separated
plutonium held abroad for the fabrication of fuel is also shown below.
(Note ４)

<Unit: kg Pu>

Separated plutonium
Fissile Plutonium
20,696(20,002)
13,939(13,526)
16,278(16,310)
10,572(10,604)
36,974(36,312)
24,511(24,130)

U.K.
FranceTotal(Note ４) Nuclear losses (refer to Note 2 of Reference 2) are taken into account in the assessment of the amount of
plutonium held in reprocessing facilities.

5Unofficial Translation

Utilization of separated plutonium from Jan. to Dec., 2014
Figures in brackets are the data for the end of the year 2013(1)

The amount of plutonium-oxide recovered <Unit: kg Pu>
Amount ofplutonium-oxide
recovered (Note 5)

2.

JAEA
Reprocessing Plant

JNFL
Reprocessing Plant

Total

86
(0)

0
(0)

86
(0)

Amount ofplutonium infuel fabrication
processes(Note ６)

(2) The amount of plutonium in fuel fabrication processes <Unit: kg Pu>
for Monju, Joyo, etc.

0(0)

Amount ofplutonium loaded innuclear reactors(Note 7)

(3) The amount of plutonium loaded in nuclear reactors <Unit: kg Pu>(Note 5)(Note 6)(Note 7)(Note 8)

Nuclear Reactors

0(0)“Amount of plutonium-oxide recovered” is defined as the amount of plutonium in oxide form (MOX powder)converted from plutonium nitrate at reprocessing facilities.
“Amount of plutonium in fuel fabrication processes” is defined as the net amount of plutonium transferred fromraw materials storage areas into fabrication process areas at fuel fabrication facilities.
“Amount of plutonium loaded” is defined as the amount of plutonium loaded into reactor cores for use as fuel(to be irradiated).
The total figures may not agree completely due to rounding.

6

Unofficial Translation[Reference 1]
The amount of plutonium held and loaded in nuclear reactors and other facilities in Japan at the end of the year 2014.
Plutonium held(Note 1)

Plutonium newly loaded(Note 2)

Separated Plutonium

Separated Plutonium(Reference Data)
Plutonium loaded(un-irradiated) minus –unloaded plutonium (irradiated) (Note 3)

Total (kg Pu)

Fissile plutonium in
total(kg Puf)

Total (kg Pu)

Fissile plutonium(kg Puf)

Total (kg Pu)

Fissile plutonium(kg Puf)Japan Atomic Energy

Joyo

134

98

－

－

261

184

Agency

Monju

31

21

－

－

1,533

1,069

Tokyo Electric

Fukushima Daiichi Unit 3

－

－

－

－

210

143

Power Company

Kashiwazaki Kariwa Unit 3

205

138

－

－

－

－

Chubu Electric Power Company Hamaoka Unit 4

213

145

－

－

－

－

Kansai Electric

Takahama Unit 3

901

585

－

－

368

221

Power Company

Takahama Unit 4

184

110

－

－

－

－

Shikoku Electric Power Company Ikata Unit 3

198

136

－

－

633

436

Kyushu Electric Power Company Genkai Unit 3

801

516

－

－

677

468

331

293

87

72

15

11

11

9

Japan Atomic
EnergyResearch andAgencyDevelopment
Facilities

Other facilities

Fast Critical Assemblyin Tokai R&D Center
Deuterium Critical
Assembly in Oarai R&D
CenterStatic Experiment
Critical Facility andTransient Experiment
Critical Facility in Tokai
R&D Center(Note 1) Plutonium held at the end of 2014
(Note 2) Plutonium loaded during the period from January 2014 to December 2014
(Note 3) The figures represent the total amount of plutonium loaded into reactor cores by the end of 2014 subtracted by the total amount of unloaded plutonium from reactor cores by the end of 2014. It is equivalent
to the amount of plutonium staying in the reactor cores at the end of 2014, with the proviso that the amount does not take into account the nuclear losses. For commercial reactors, some irradiated fuels
may be removed to spent fuel pools temporarily for periodic inspection.
Additional information for reference (as of the end of 2014):
Irradiated plutonium contained in spent fuel in the storage facilities at reactor sites: 134,425kg Pu
Irradiated plutonium contained in spent fuel in the storage facilities at reprocessing plants: 26,650kg Pu
Small amount of plutonium contained in radioactive nuclear waste and recognized as irrecoverable for the time being: 148kg Pu

7

Unofficial Translation[Reference 2]

The Balance of Separated Plutonium held in Japan at the end of the year 2014.
Unit: kg Pu(Note1)<Total>Total amount of plutonium newly separated at reprocessing
facilities
Total amount of plutonium newly loaded in nuclear reactors
Variance in processes at facilities
Total amount of plutonium returned from abroad
Increase by unloading from a reactor
Balance

0
0
2
0
0
2

[JAEA Reprocessing Facility]
From separation and purification process to storage of raw material
at co-conversion process in the reprocessing plant (Note1)
Inventory as of Jan. 1, 2014 (the end of the year 2013)
Separation of plutonium (in 2014)
Plutonium shipped out (in 2014)
Variance in processes at reprocessing facility (Note 2)increase
Transfer to retained waste
andRetransfer from retained waste
decrease
Breakdown Nuclear loss
Measured discard
Material unaccounted for (MUF)
Inventory as of the end of Dec. 2014

748
0
△39
△0
△0.1
0.0
△1.1
0.0
1.2
709

[JAEA Plutonium Fabrication Facility]
From raw material of MOX to fuel assembly products (Note1)
Inventory as of Jan. 1, 2014 (the end of the year 2013)
Plutonium received (in 2014)
Plutonium shipped out (in 2014)
Variance in processes at fuel fabrication facility (Note 2)increase
Shipper/receiver difference
andTransfer to retained waste
decrease
Breakdown Retransfer from retained waste
Nuclear loss
Material unaccounted for (MUF)
Inventory as of the end of Dec. 2014

8

3,364
39
0
1
0.0
△0.0
0.0
△0.6
1.4
3,404

Unofficial Translation[Nuclear Reactors and Other Facilities]“Joyo”, “Monju”, “Commercial Reactors”, and “R&D Facilities” (Note1)
Inventory as of Jan. 1, 2014 (the end of the year 2013)
Plutonium received (in 2014)
increase
The amount includes the plutonium returned from oversea reprocessing plants.
andPlutonium loading (in 2014)
decrease
Plutonium shipped out (in 2014)
Increase by unloading from a reactor (the amount for the year 2014)
Inventory as of the end of Dec. 2014

3,109
0
0
0
0
3,109

[JNFL Reprocessing Facility]
From separation and purification process to storage of raw material
at mixed conversion process in the reprocessing facility (Note1)
Inventory as of Jan. 1, 2014 (the end of the year 2013)
Separation of plutonium (in 2014)
Plutonium shipped out (in 2014)
Variance in processes at reprocessing facility (Note 2)
Transfer to retained waste
increase
andRetransfer from retained waste
decrease
Nuclear loss
Breakdown
Measured discard
Plutonium sample received
Material unaccounted for (MUF)
Inventory as of the end of Dec. 2014

3,611
0
△0
2
△0.0
0.0
△0.9
0.0
0.1
2.5
3,613

(Note 1) The total may not agree due to rounding. “△” indicates consequential decrease.
(Note 2) The variances in processes at each facility includes, in addition to receipts into and shipments from the facility,
inventory change in the material control and accounting (shipper/receiver difference, transfer to retained waste,
retransfer from retained waste, nuclear loss, measured discard and so on), and material unaccounted for. The
definition of inventory change and material unaccounted for are described below. These are concepts
recognized internationally in the measurement and control of nuclear fuel materials. The variance that causes
the reduction of inventory is shown with “△”.
 Shipper/receiver difference:
The difference between the quantity of nuclear fuel materials as status by the shipping side and that as
measured by the receiving side when nuclear fuel materials are transferred between different facilities.
 Transfer to retained waste:
Amount of the nuclear fuel materials that are removed from the booked inventory, which is deemed to bein unrecoverable status for the time being but which is held, such as plutonium contained in high level
radioactive liquid or low level radioactive liquid generated in the process of recovering nuclear fuelmaterials from spent fuel solution.
 Retransfer from retained waste:
Amount of the nuclear fuel materials that had been retained as waste but was re-classified as the booked
inventory in order to be processed for volume reduction and other purposes.
 Nuclear loss:
Amount of the loss (decrease) of nuclear fuel materials as a result of natural decay.
 Measured discard:
Amount of the nuclear fuel materials that has been measured or estimated on the basis ofmeasurements, and disposed of in such a way (vitrification, etc.) that is not suitable for further nuclear
use.
 Material unaccounted for (MUF):
The difference between the “booked inventory” and the “physical inventory” that is defined by actual
measurement. MUF is inevitably generated from measurement error or adhesion of plutonium toequipments in a facility where plutonium is treated in powder or liquid status.

9Unofficial Translation[Reference 3]- The Status of Separated Plutonium in Japan (2014) [Amount of Holdings][Separated plutonium held abroad]New fuel and for R&D

Total amountabroad36,974

Unit: kg Pu

3,109(Transferred amount in a facility and variances inprocesses at facilities)

Total amount transported
from abroad0[Total amount loaded] Amount of plutonium loaded into reactors

0

Increase by unloading of the unirradiated fuel0

Nuclear Reactors
and Other
Facilities(Transferred amount in a facility andvariation in processes at a facility)[Used amount] Amount of
plutonium in fuel fabrication
processes

0

Variances in processes

1

Total
amountshipped out(Transferred amount in a facility andvariation in processes at a facility)

Spent
Fuels

[Total amount separated]
Amount of reprocessed
spent fuel0

Total in Japan

10,835[Amount recovered]Amounts converted fromplutonium nitrate toplutonium oxide

Variances in processes

Plutonium oxide

Total amountshipped out
1,974

Plutonium in the stageof testing or fabrication

983

New fuel, etc.

446

Total

3,404

86

2

Reprocessing Facilities

Fuel Fabrication
Facilities[Amount of Holdings]

039[Amount of Holdings]
Plutonium nitrate, etc.
Plutonium oxide
Total

862
3,460
4,322

(Note 1) “Amount of Holdings” is the figure as of the end of the year 2014.
(Note 2) “Transferred amount in a facility and variances in processes at facility”
shows the figure for one year in 2014.
(Note 3) “△” indicates decrease.

10Unofficial Translation[Reference 4]

The Amount of Plutonium Held in Japan to be published by the IAEA in accordance with
the Guidelines for the Management of Plutonium(as of the end of the year 2014. Previous year’s figures in brackets)
Annual figures for holdings of civil un-irradiated plutonium *１
1. Un-irradiated separated plutonium in product stores atreprocessing plants
2. Un-irradiated separated plutonium in the course of manufacture
or fabrication and plutonium contained in un-irradiated semifabricated or unfinished products at fuel or other fabricating
plants or elsewhere
3. Plutonium contained in un-irradiated MOX fuel or otherfabricated products at reactor sites or elsewhere
4. Un-irradiated separated plutonium held elsewhere（Unit：t Pu）

4.3

(4.4)

3.0

(2.9)

3.1

(3.1)

0.4

(0.4)

［Sum of lines 1-4 above］*2[ 10.8(ⅰ) Plutonium included in lines 1-4 above belonging to foreign
bodies.
(ⅱ) Plutonium in any of the forms in lines 1-4 above held in locationsin other countries and therefore not included above.
(ⅲ) Plutonium not included in lines 1-4 above which is ininternational shipment prior to its arrival in the recipient Status.

0(37.0*3(36.3*3)0(

Estimated amount of plutonium contained in spent civil reactor fuel *4
1. Plutonium contained in spent fuel at civil reactor sites.
2. Plutonium contained in spent fuel at reprocessing plants.
3. Plutonium contained in spent fuel held elsewhere.
［Sum of lines 1-3 above］*5(10.8) ]0)0)（Unit：t Pu）

[

134
27
<0.5

(134)
( 27)
( <0.5)

161

(160)

（Definition）
Line 1：covers estimated amounts of plutonium contained in fueldischarged from civil reactors
Line 2：covers estimated amounts of plutonium contained in fuelreceived at reprocessing plants but not yet reprocessed.
*1: Rounded to 100 kg plutonium.
*2, 5: The sum is calculated for the sake of convenience and it is out of the scope of thereport in accordance with the Guidelines.
*3: Loss of Pu-241 due to radioactive decay is taken into account in the assessment of theamount of fissile plutonium held at the overseas reprocessing plants.
*4: Rounded to 1,000 kg plutonium.

11]Unofficial Translation[Reference 5]

The Amount of Plutonium (note 1) Held in Each Country at the End of the Year 2013
Published by the IAEA in Accordance with the Guidelines for the Management of
Plutonium（Unit：t Pu）

Un-irradiatedplutonium＊１

Plutonium contained in spentfuel＊２

U.S

49.0

617

Russia

51.9

140.0

U.K.

123.0

31

France

78.1

268.9

China＊３

13.8kg

-

Japan

10.8

161

Germany

3.0

109.5

Belgium

1.4

38< 50kg18

Switzerland（note1) Sum of civil plutonium and plutonium no longer required for defense purpose.
＊１：Values rounded to 100 kg plutonium. The items reported as less than 50 kg are
not included.
＊２：Values rounded to 1,000 kg plutonium, The items reported as less than 500 kg
are not included.
＊３：China declared that it published only the amount of un-irradiated plutonium.
A short history of the Guidelines for the Management of Plutonium
In Feb.1994, the nine countries, i.e. U.S., Russia, U.K., France, China, Japan,
Germany, Belgium and Switzerland started to deliberate the establishment of aninternational framework aiming at enhancing the transparency of plutonium utilization.
In Dec.1997, these nine countries adopted the Guidelines for the Management of
Plutonium that provided the basic norms about plutonium management, transparency
through publication of the amount of plutonium held in each country and the importanceof non-proliferation.
In Mar.1998, the IAEA published for the first time the amount of plutonium held ineach country and the policy statement of each country about plutonium utilization reported
to the IAEA in accordance with the Guideline.
12