Unofficial Translation

The Status Report of Plutonium Management in Japan - 2016 August 1, 2017
Office of Atomic Energy Policy
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 ensuring nuclear non-proliferation throughout
research, development and utilization of nuclear energy, the Japanese Government
has strictly controlled all nuclear materials and activities, putting them under the IAEA
(International Atomic Energy Agency) safeguards in accordance with the Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Particularly, for plutonium, the Japanese Government
has firmly maintained the principle of not possessing plutonium reserves whose
purpose of utilization is unspecified. For assuring its transparency domestically andinternationally, Japan has published the status of management of unirradiatedseparated plutonium (hereafter referred to as “separated plutonium”) including usage
and stockpile both within and outside Japan since 1994. Japan has also annuallyreported the status to the IAEA in conformity with the “Guidelines for the Managementof Plutonium.”(2) Overview of the status of separated plutonium management
As of the end of 2016, the total amount of separated plutonium both managed
within and outside of Japan was approximately 46.9 tons, approximately 9.8 tons ofwhich was held domestically and the rest of approximately 37.1 tons was held 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 contracted out to France has
been completed and approximately 16.2 tons of separated plutonium is held there asof the end of 2016. ②As for the reprocessing of spent fuel contracted out to the U.K.,
approximately 20.8 tons of separated plutonium is held in the U.K. There was no
plutonium newly separated and added to the stock in 2016. Approximately 1 ton of
plutonium from the remaining spent fuel contracted out to the U.K. will be added tothe stockpile 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>

Total
Held in Japan(Total)Held abroad

Breakdown

U.K.
FranceAs of the end of
the year 2015
47.9
10.8
37.1
20.9
16.2

As of the end of
the year 2016
46.9
9.8
37.1
20.8
16.2

(3) Conclusion of the safeguards in 2016
The IAEA’s Board of Governors held in June 2017 has affirmatively concluded thatthe safeguards conducted by the IAEA in 2016 determined that all the nuclear
material remain in peaceful activities (Broader Conclusion) on the ground that there
are no indications of the declared nuclear materials deviating from peaceful nuclear
activities and there are no indications of undeclared nuclear materials nor activities.
2.

The Current Status of Separated Plutonium Management in JapanThe status of separated plutonium management in Japan as of the end of the year
2016 is given on the separate sheet attached herewith. The amounts of separated
plutonium 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 unirradiated separated plutonium that has
been separated at reprocessing facilities but has not been irradiated. Such plutonium
is held in the following facilities :1) Reprocessing facilities: in the state of plutonium nitrate in the separation andpurification 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 the stage oftesting or fabrication, or contained in newly fabricated fuel.
3) Nuclear reactors and other facilities: plutonium oxide contained in unirradiatednew fuels held at Joyo, Monju and commercial reactor sites (this includes
fresh mixed oxide fuels loaded into the reactor core but yet to be irradiated,and such fuels unloaded from the reactor core without having been irradiated),2

Unofficial Translationand those held for research at research and development facilities ofuniversities or research institutes, and as both irradiated and unirradiatedfuels for critical assemblies..
“Separated plutonium held abroad” given in Section 1-(2) of the Attachment isplutonium that has been separated by reprocessors in the U.K. and France undercontracts with Japanese electric utilities, but not yet returned to Japan. Basically, suchplutonium is to be fabricated into mixed oxide fuels overseas and be utilized at lightwater reactors (LWRs) in Japan.
“Utilization of separated plutonium” in Sections 2-(1), (2), and (3) of the Attachment
is to provide further clarity of the plutonium management. It shows the amount of
plutonium in oxide form recovered at reprocessing facilities, the net amount of
plutonium transferred to fabrication process of the fuel fabrication facilities and theamount of fresh mixed oxide fuels loaded into the reactors and irradiated.
4.

Additional reference information
In response to the revision of the definition of plutonium to be reported under the
IAEA’s “Guidelines for the Management of Plutonium”, unirradiated plutonium
contained in unirradiated new fuel (251kg Pu) that was loaded into Monju in August
2010, is now counted as part of “separated plutonium” in the report of the year 2016.
(See details in Reference 5 “Clarification of Definitions based on the Amendment to
the Plutonium Management Guidelines”)
Also attached are the following five references.

[References]
Reference 1

The amount of separated plutonium held in nuclear reactors and otherfacilities in Japan at the end of the year 2016.

Reference 2

The balance of separated plutonium held in Japan at the end of the year
2016.

Reference 3

The Status of Separated Plutonium in Japan (2016) (illustration)

Reference 4

The amount of plutonium held in Japan at the end of the year 2016 to be
published by the IAEA under the Guidelines for the Management of
Plutonium.

Reference 5

The amount of plutonium held in each country at the end of the year 2015
published by the IAEA under the Guidelines for the Management of
Plutonium.

3Unofficial Translation

Attachment
The Status of Separated Plutonium Management in Japan as of the End of the Year 2016
1. Separated plutonium in storage
Figures in brackets are the data published last year for the end of year 2015

Reprocessing Facilities(1) Separated plutonium held in Japan

Breakdown(Note 1)

<Unit: kg Pu>

Plutonium nitrate, etc. (Dissolved
into nitric acid for reprocessing)Plutonium oxide (held as mixed
oxide in containers)

Japan Atomic
Energy Agency(JAEA)
Tokai
Reprocessing
Plant

Japan Nuclear
Fuel Limited(JNFL)
Rokkasho
Reprocessing
Plant

Total

27(266)276(285)303(551)281(246)

3,329(3,329)

3,610(3,575)

309(512)3,604(3,614)

3,913(4,126)

202(336)

2,342(2,348)

2,544(2,684)

Total
Fissile Plutonium

Fuel fabrication Facilities

JAEA
Plutonium Fuel Fabrication Facilities

Breakdown(Note 2)Plutonium oxide (held in plutoniumoxide containers)
Plutonium in the stage of testing or
fabrication
New fuel, etc. (held as finishedfuel assemblies, etc.)

2,423(2,150)
936(999)446(446)
3,805(3,596)

Total

Reactors and Other
Facilities

Fissile Plutonium

2,627(2,490)

Unirradiated new fuel held at nuclear reactor sites,
etc.

Joyo

Monju

Commercial
Reactors

134
(134)

282 (Note 4)
(31)

1,597
(2,501)

R&D
Facilities(Note 3)113
(444)

2,126(3,110)
Total
Fissile Plutonium

1,434(2,134)

9,844(10,832)
Total
Fissile Plutonium(Note 1)

6,605(7,307)

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 possibly from the movements of materials between material balance areas in a facility caused byreuses of out-specification products, storing of new fuels.
(Note 3)

“R&D Facilities” includes critical assemblies and other R&D facilities.

(Note 4)In response to the revision of the definition of plutonium to be reported under IAEA’s “Guidelines for theManagement of Plutonium” (September 2016), unirradiated fuels (251 kg Pu) loaded in Monju in August 2010
was added.

4

Unofficial Translation(2) Separated plutonium held abroad (Note 5)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, and brought 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 bettertransparency, the current status of separated plutonium held abroad for the fabrication of fuel is also shown
below.

<Unit: kg Pu>
Separated plutonium
Fissile Plutonium
U.K.

20,839(20,868)

14,003(14,032)

France16,217(16,248)

10,513(10,542)

Total

37,056(37,115)

24,516(24,574)(Note 5) 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.

Utilization of separated plutonium from Jan. to Dec., 2016
Figures in brackets are the data for the end of the year 2015

(1)

The amount of plutonium-oxide recovered <Unit: kg Pu>
Amount ofplutonium-oxide
recovered (Note6)

2.

(Note 6)

JAEA
Tokai
Reprocessing
Plant

JNFL
Rokkasho
Reprocessing
Plant

Total

244
(308)

0
(0)

244
(308)

“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
separated
plutonium infuel fabrication
processes(Note 7 )(2) The amount of separated plutonium in fuel fabrication processes <Unit: kg Pu>(Note 7)for Monju, Joyo, etc.

0(0)“Amount of separated plutonium in fuel fabrication processes” is defined as the net amount of plutoniumtransferred from raw materials storage areas into fabrication process areas at fuel fabrication facilities.

5Unofficial Translation(3) The amount of MOX fuel loaded and irradiated in nuclear reactors <Unit: kg Pu>
Amount of MOX
fuel loaded andirradiated innuclearreactors(Note 8)

Nuclear Reactors

904
(0)

(Note 8)“Amount of MOX fuel loaded and irradiated in nuclear reactors” is defined as the amount of unirradiated MOX
fuel which was once held in the nuclear reactor facilities and then loaded into reactor cores for use as fuel andirradiated. The MOX fuels that are loaded into the reactors are either unirradiated or in the process of irradiation.
For the sake of clarity, the figure here specifically refers to the irradiated amount.

(Note 9)The total figures may not agree completely due to rounding.

6

Unofficial Translation[Reference 1]
The amount of separated plutonium held in nuclear reactors and other facilities in Japan at the end of the year 2016.

Joyo

Plutonium held(Note 1)(Unirradiated separated plutonium)

Plutonium loaded into the reactors
out of the “Plutonium held” in theleft column (Note 2)(Unirradiated separated plutonium)

Total (kg Pu)

Fissile plutonium
in total(kg Puf)

Total (kg Pu)

Fissile plutonium(kg Puf)

134

98

－

－

(Note 4)(Note 4)(Note 4)

(Reference Data)“Total amount of
unirradiated separated plutonium
loaded into the reactor cores by theend of 2016 “ minus “Total amount of
irradiated plutonium unloaded fromthe reactor cores” (Note 3)
Total (kg Pu)
Fissile plutonium(kg Puf)261

Japan Atomic Energy Agency

184
＊

282

193

251

171

1,533

1,069

Fukushima Daiichi Unit 3

－

－

－

－

210

143

Kashiwazaki Kariwa Unit 3

205

138

－

－

-

-

213

145

－

－

－

－

Takahama Unit 3

181

117

-

-

1,088

688

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

-

-

87

72

15

11

11

9

Monju

Commercial Reactors(Note 4)

Tokyo Electric Power
Company Holdings

Chubu Electric Power Company Hamaoka Unit 4
Kansai Electric Power
Company

ResearchandDevelopmen
t Facilities

Japan Atomic
EnergyAgencyOther facilities

Fast Critical Assembly inTokai R&D Center(Note 5)
Deuterium Critical Assembly in
Oarai R&D Center
Static Experiment Critical Facility
and Transient Experiment Critical
Facility in Tokai R&D Center(Note 1) Unirradiated separated plutonium held at the end of 2016
(Note 2) Plutonium loaded into the reactors out of the unirradiated separated plutonium held at the end of 2016
During the year 2016, unirradiated separated plutonium equivalent to 720kgPU was irradiated at Takahama Unit 3 and 184kgPu at Takahama Unit 4(Note 3) The figures represent the total amount of unirradated separated plutonium loaded into reactor cores by the end of 2016 subtracted by the total amount of irradiated plutonium unloaded from reactor coresby the end of 2016. It is equivalent to the weight of plutonium of the unirradiated MOX fuel staying in the reactor cores at the end of 2016, For commercial reactors, some irradiated fuels may be removed
to spent fuel pools temporarily for periodic inspection.
(Note 4) In response to the revision of the definition of plutonium to be reported under IAEA’s “Guidelines for the Management of Plutonium” (September, 2016), unirradiated fuels (251 kg Pu) loaded in Monju
in August 2010 was added. ＊：Total of the 1,533kg Pu includes 251kg Pu unirraduated separated plutonium loaded in Monju(Note 5) No inventory registered as plutonium was shipped out in 2016.
Additional information for reference (as of the end of 2016):
Irradiated plutonium contained in spent fuel in the storage facilities at reactor sites: 137,392kg Pu
Irradiated plutonium contained in spent fuel in the storage facilities at reprocessing plants: 26,734kg Pu
Small amount of plutonium contained in radioactive waste and recognized as irrecoverable for the time being: 144kg Pu

7

Unofficial Translation[Reference 2]

The Balance of Separated Plutonium held in Japan at the end of the year 2016.
Unit: kg Pu(Note 1)

< Variations during the year 2016>
Total amount of plutonium newly separated at reprocessing facilities
Total amount of plutonium newly loaded in reactors and irradiatedTotal amount of plutonium exported in Japan
Variance in processes at facilities
Balance

0
△904
△325
△10
△1,239[JAEA Reprocessing Facility]
From separation and purification process to storage of raw material
at co-conversion process in the reprocessing plant (Note 1)
Inventory as of Jan. 1, 2016 (the end of the year 2015)
Separation of plutonium (in 2016)
Plutonium shipped out (in 2016)
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. 2016

512
0
△209
5
△0.1
4.4
△0.1
△1.7
2.5
309

[JAEA Plutonium Fabrication Facility]
From raw material of MOX to fuel assembly products (Note 1)
Inventory as of Jan. 1, 2016 (the end of the year 2015) (Note 3)
Plutonium received (in 2016)
Plutonium shipped out (in 2016)
Variance in processes at fuel fabrication facilities (Note 2)increase
Shipper/receiver difference
anddecrease
Retransfer from retained waste
Breakdown
Nuclear loss
Material unaccounted for (MUF)
Inventory as of the end of Dec. 2016

3,596
209
△0
0
0.0
0.0
△0.3
0.4
3,805

[Nuclear Reactors and Other Facilities]“Joyo”, “Monju”, “Commercial Reactors”, and “R&D Facilities” (Note 1)
Inventory as of Jan. 1, 2016 (the end of the year 2015)

increaseanddecrease

3,361

Decrease by loading in reactors and irradiation (in 2016)△904

Plutonium shipped out (in 2016)

△325
△6

Variance at reactor sites
Breakdown

Nuclear loss

△5.7

Transfer to retained waste, etc.

△0.0

Inventory as of the end of Dec. 2016

2,126

8

Unofficial Translation[JNFL Reprocessing Plant]
From separation and purification process to storage of raw material
at mixed conversion process in the reprocessing facility (Note 1)
Inventory as of Jan. 1, 2016 (the end of the year 2015)
Separation of plutonium (in 2016)
Plutonium shipped in (in 2016): material for analysis
Plutonium shipped out (in 2016): material for analysis
Variance in processes at reprocessing facility (Note 2)increaseandTransfer to retained waste
decrease
Retransfer from retained waste
Breakdown Nuclear loss
Measured discard
Material unaccounted for (MUF)
Inventory as of the end of Dec. 2016

3,614
0
0
△0
△10
△0.0
0.0
△0.8
0.0
△8.9
3,604

(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 book inventory, which is deemed to be in
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 bookinventory 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 book 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 state.
(Note 3) In response to the revision of the definition of plutonium to be reported under IAEA’s “Guidelines for theManagement of Plutonium” (September 2016), unirradiated fuels (251 kg Pu) which were loaded in Monju inAugust 2010 was added in the report of the year 2016.

9Unofficial Translation[Reference 3]- The Status of Separated Plutonium in Japan (2016) -Unit: kg Pu[Amount of Holdings][Separated plutonium held abroad]New fuel and for R&D

Total amountabroad2,126

37,056
Transferred amountfrom Japan[Separated plutonium
shipped abroad](JAEA)
Fast Critical
Assembly(Transferred amount in a facility and variances inprocesses at facilities)

325

325

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

0

Total amountshipped out[Total amount unirradiated] Amount of plutonium loaded
into reactors and irradiated△904

Variances in NuclearRreactors△6(Transferred amount in a facility andvariation in processes at a facility)

Spent Fuels
0

Total amountin Japan

9,844[Total amount separated] Amountof reprocessed spent fuel0

[Amount recovered] Amounts
converted from plutonium nitrate toplutonium oxide

244

Variances in processes
Reprocessing Facilities

Fuel Fabrication
Facilities
Total amountshipped out[Amount of Holdings]
Plutonium oxide

2,423

Plutonium in the stageof testing or fabrication

936

New fuel, etc.

446

Total

3,805

△5

209

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

303
3,610
3,913

(Note 1) “Amount of Holdings” is the figure as of the end of the year 2016.
(Note 2) “Transferred amount in a facility and variances in processes at facility” shows thefigure for one year in 2016.
(Note 3) “△” indicates decrease.

10Unofficial Translation[Reference 4]

The Amount of Plutonium Held in Japan to be published by the IAEA
under the Guidelines for the Management of Plutonium(as of the end of the year 2016. Previous year’s figures in brackets)
Annual figures for holdings of civil unirradiated plutonium *１
1. Unirradiated separated plutonium in product stores atreprocessing plants
2. Unirradiated separated plutonium in the course of manufacture
or fabrication and plutonium contained in unirradiated semifabricated or unfinished products at fuel or other fabricating
plants or elsewhere
3. Plutonium contained in unirradiated MOX fuel, including thatloaded into a reactor core prior to use, or other unirradiatedplutonium in fabricated products at reactor sites or elsewhere
4. Unirradiated separated plutonium held elsewhere（Unit：t Pu）

3.9

(4.1)

3.4

(3.1)

2.5

(3.1)

0.1

(0.4)

[ 9.8
［Sum of lines 1-4 above］*20(ⅰ) Plutonium included in lines 1-4 above belonging to foreign
bodies.
37.1*3(ⅱ) Plutonium in any of the forms in lines 1-4 above held in
locations in other countries and therefore not included above.
0(ⅲ) Plutonium not included in lines 1-4 above which is ininternational shipment prior to its arrival in the recipient State.
Estimated amount of plutonium contained in spent civil reactor fuel *4
1. Plutonium contained in spent fuel at civil reactor sites.
137
2. Plutonium contained in spent fuel at reprocessing plants.
27
3. Plutonium contained in spent fuel held elsewhere.
<0.5［Sum of lines 1-3 above］*5[

164(10.8) ](0)(37.1*3)(0)（Unit：t Pu）

(136)
( 27)
(<0.5)(163) ]

（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 under 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.
*6: The amount at the end of 2016 is revised based on the change of definition in accordancewith the amendment to the Guidelines.

11Unofficial Translation[Reference 5]

The Amount of Plutonium Held in Each Country at the End of the Year 2015Published by the
IAEA under the Guidelines for the Management of Plutonium（Unit：t Pu）

Unirradiatedplutonium＊１

Plutonium containedin spent fuel＊２

U.S

49.0

656

Russia

55.4

151

U.K.

129.4

29

France

79.7

281.7

China＊３

25.4kg

-

Japan

10.8

163

Germany

1.8

116.3

Belgium< 50kg40

Switzerland< 50kg20＊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 unirradiated 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 on the establishment of aninternational framework aimed at enhancing the transparency of plutonium utilization.
In Dec.1997, these nine countries decided on 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 of each country about plutonium utilization reported to the
IAEA under the Guidelines.

12Unofficial Translation[Clarification of Definitions based on the Amendment to the
Guidelines ”]

Plutonium Management

In September, 2016, for the purpose of clarifying the description of line 3 of Annex B“Annual Figures for Holdings Civil Unirradiated Plutonium” in the Guidelines for theManagement of Plutonium of the IAEA, line 3 was revised to” Plutonium contained inunirradiated MOX fuel, including that loaded into a reactor core prior to use, or otherunirradiated plutonium in fabricated products at reactor sites or elsewhere(note:
underlined part is added),” and based on this revision, the description of line 3 of Annual
Figures for Holdings Civil Unirradiated Plutonium, in Reference 4 “The amount of
plutonium held in Japan as of the end of 2016 to be published by the IAEA under the
Guidelines for the Management of Plutonium,” was accordingly revised.
Japan has also revised the definition of “Separated plutonium held in Japan” to“unirradiated separated plutonium that has been separated at reprocessing facilities but
has not been irradiated.” (note: underlined part is revised)13