The Current Situation of Plutonium Management in Japan
11 September 2013
Cabinet OfficeSecretariat of the Atomic Energy Commission

1.

PrefaceThis is a report on the current situation of plutonium management in Japan.
Recognizing that it is essential in implementing research, development andutilization of nuclear energy to assure nuclear non-proliferation, Japanese
government has strictly controlled the utilization of plutonium, putting it under the
IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) safeguards in accordance with the
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and made effort to assure its transparency tothe public at home and abroad. To annually publish a report on the situation of
plutonium management in Japan is a part of activities in this regard, which started in
1994.
2.

The Current Situation of Plutonium Management in JapanThe situation of separated plutonium managed in Japan as of the end of the year
2012 is given on the separate sheet attached. The amounts of plutonium given intables are weight of the element by kilogram unit except those specified otherwise.
Figures in brackets are data published last year.
3.

Note on the Data in the Attached Sheet“Separated plutonium in safekeeping in Japan” is the plutonium that has been
separated at a reprocessing facility and stored for loading into nuclear reactors, which
includes those at the following facilities:
1) Reprocessing facility: plutonium nitrate in the separation and purification
processes, plutonium oxide both in the co-conversion process and incontainers.
2) Fuel fabrication facility: plutonium oxide stored as raw materials, that in
the stage of test or fabrication and that contained in new fuel fabricated.
3) Nuclear reactors and other facilities: plutonium contained in un-irradiated1new fuels stored at Joyo, Monju and commercial reactors, and that used forresearch or stored as fuels for critical facilities at research anddevelopment organizations.
“Separated plutonium in safekeeping abroad” is the plutonium that has been
separated by reprocessers in the UK and France under the reprocessing contracts
with Japanese electric utilities, but not yet has been returned to Japan. Basically, thisplutonium is to be fabricated into mixed oxide fuels overseas and be utilized at lightwater reactors (LWRs) in Japan.
Whereas “Separated plutonium in safekeeping in Japan” given in Section 1 of the
Attached Sheet is the amount of plutonium in safekeeping at a certain point in time
(as of the end of the year 2012), “Separated plutonium in use” given in Section 2 is theamount of plutonium in various stages of utilization.
Also attached are reference 1 that gives the amount of plutonium stored andloaded in each nuclear reactor and other facility, reference 2 that gives the balance ofthe separated plutonium stored in Japan, reference 3 that depicts the flow ofplutonium in the year 2012, reference 4 that gives the amount of plutonium held inJapan as of the end of the year 2012 to be reported to the IAEA according to theguidelines for the management of plutonium, and reference 5 that gives the sum of
the amount of plutonium held in each country as of the end of the year 2011 publishedthrough the IAEA in accordance with the guideline.
[References]
Reference 1
Reference 2
Reference 3
Reference 4
Reference 5

The amount of plutonium stored and loaded in each nuclear reactor
and other facility in Japan at the end of the year 2012.
The balance of separated plutonium in safekeeping in Japan in 2012.
The situation of management of separated plutonium in Japan (2012).
The amount of plutonium held in Japan to be reported to the IAEA
according to the guidelines for the management of plutonium.
The amount of plutonium (note1) held in each country at the end of
the year 2011 published through the IAEA accordance with theguidelines for the management of plutonium.

2

Attached Sheet
The Situation of Separated Plutonium Management in Japan as of the End of the Year2012
1. Separated plutonium in safekeeping
Figures in brackets are data published last year

Reprocessing Facilities(1) Separated plutonium in safekeeping in Japan

Facility Name

Plutonium nitrate, etc. (After dissolution to theprocess before stored as mixed oxide incontainers)
Plutonium oxide (stored as mixed oxide incontainers)

Breakdown(Note 1)

Fuel fabrication Facilities

Total

Reactors andOther Facilities<Unit: kgPu>

Plutonium fissile in total

Incorporated
Administrative
Agency, Japan
Atomic Energy
Agency (JAEA)
Reprocessing
Plant

Japan Nuclear
Fuel Limited(JNFL)
Reprocessing
Plant

Total

668 ( 669)

283 ( 283)

951 (952)

83 ( 83)

3,329 (3,329)

3,412 (3,411)

751 ( 752)
498 ( 499)

3,612 (3,612)
2,348 (2,348)

4,363 (4,364)
2,846 (2,847)

JAEA
Plutonium Fabrication Plant

Facility Name
Plutonium oxide (stored plutonium inplutonium oxide containers)
Plutonium in the stage of test or fabrication

Breakdown(Note 2)

1,939 (1,941)
978 (976)

New fuel, etc. (stored as finished fuelassemblies, etc.)
Total

446 ( 446)
3,364 (3,363)
2,333 (2,333)

Plutonium fissile in total

Name of Nuclear Reactor, etc.

Joyo

Monju

Unirradiated new fuel stored at nuclear reactor sites, etc.

134
(134)

31
(31)

R&D Facilities(Note 3)

444
(444)

1,568 (1,568)

Total

Total

Commercial
Reactors
959(959)

Plutonium fissile in total

1,136 (1,136)

Plutonium fissile in total

9,295 (9,295)
6,315 (6,316)(2) Separated plutonium in safekeeping abroad (Note 4)
Separated plutonium
Plutonium fissile in total
17,052 (17,028)
11,622 (11,616)
17,895 (17,931)
11,655 (11,692)
34,946 (34,959)
23,277 (23,308)

Safekeeping countries
Recovered in the UK
Recovered in France
Total

3

Separated plutonium in use from Jan. to Dec. in 2012
Figures in brackets are data published last year

(1)

The amount of plutonium-oxide recovered <Unit: kgPu>

Amount ofplutonium-oxide
recovered (Note 5)

2.

JAEA
Reprocessing Plant

JNFL
Reprocessing Plant

Total

0
(0)

0
(0)

0
(0)

Amount ofplutonium infuel fabrication
processes(Note 6)

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

0(0)

Amount ofplutonium loaded innuclear reactors(Note 7)

(3) The amount of plutonium loaded in nuclear reactors <Unit: kgPu>
Nuclear Reactors

0( 640 )

(Note 1)

There is not only the “Amount of plutonium-oxide recovered” (refer to Note 5) regarding to the product flow,
but the movement between material balance areas in a facility is also needed for the sampling for analysis,
inspection, etc.
(Note 2) There is not only the “Amount of plutonium in fuel fabrication processes” (refer to Note 6) regarding to the
product flow, but the movement between material balance areas in a facility is also needed for the sampling
for analysis, inspection, reuse of out specification, storing of new fuel, etc.
(Note 3) “R&D Facilities” means critical assemblies, etc.
(Note 4) Nuclear losses (refer to (Note 3) of Reference 2) are considered in the evaluation of the amount of plutonium
held in reprocessing facilities given in the table of “Separated plutonium in safekeeping abroad.”(Note 5) “Amount of plutonium-oxide recovered” is defined as the amount of plutonium in oxide form (MOX powder)converted from plutonium nitrate at reprocessing facilities.
(Note 6) “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.
(Note 7) “Amount of plutonium loaded” is defined as the amount of plutonium loaded into nuclear reactors from theviewpoint of showing the separated plutonium that has been actually utilized as fuel.
(Note 8) The total value may not agree to the sum of the numbers given due to rounding off at the first decimal place.

4

[Reference 1]
The amount of plutonium stored and loaded in each nuclear reactor and other facility in Japan in 2012.
Stored plutonium (Note 1)
Separated Plutonium

Loaded plutonium (Note 2)(Reference Data)

Separated Plutonium

Loaded plutonium (un-irradiated) –Facility name

Unloaded plutonium (irradiated) (Note 3)
Total (kgPu)

Plutonium fissile intotal (kgPuf)

Total (kgPu)

Plutonium fissile intotal (kgPuf)

Total (kgPu)

Plutonium fissile intotal (kgPuf)

98
21
－
138
145
－

－
－
－
－
－
－

－
－
－
－
－
－

184
1,069
143
－
－
221
－
436
880

The Kansai Electric

Takahama Unit 3

134
31
－
205
213
－

Power Company

Takahama Unit 4

184

110

－

－

261
1,533
210
－
－
368
－

198
160

136
103

－
－

－
－

633
1,317

331

293

87

72

15

11

11

9

Japan Atomic Energy

Joyo

AgencyMonju

The Tokyo Electric

Fukushima Daiichi Unit 3Power Company

Kashiwazaki Kariwa Unit 3

Chubu Electric Power Company Hamaoka Unit 4

Shikoku Electric Power Company Ikata Unit 3
Kyushu Electric Power Company Genkai Unit 3
Japan Atomic

Fact Critical Assembly

Energyin Tokai R&D Center

AgencyDeuterium Critical
Assembly in Oarai R&D

Research andCenterDevelopment

Static Experiment

Facilities

Critical Facility andTransient Experiment
Critical Facility in Tokai
R&D Center
Other facilities(Note1) Stored plutonium at the end of 2012
(Note2) Loaded plutonium during from January 2012 to December 2012
(Note3) Difference between the total loaded plutonium (un-irradiated) by the end of 2012 and the total unloaded plutonium (irradiated) by the end of 2012 regarding to MOX fuelmanagement. It is equivalent to the plutonium, which is un-irradiated, existing in the core at the end of 2012. In commercial reactors, there is a case that the fuels are stored in
the S/F pool temporarily for periodic inspection.
Other Reference Data
Irradiated plutonium in spent fuel in the storage facility of reactor: 133,352kgPu(at the end of 2012)
Irradiated plutonium in spent fuel in the storage facility of reprocessing plant: 26,464kgPu
Plutonium which recognized that will be unrecovered in the immediate future, ex. Plutonium in the stored waste: 147kgPu

5

[Reference 2]

The Balance of Separated Plutonium in Safekeeping in Japan in 2012
Unit: kgPu
(Note1)<Total>Total amount of separated plutonium at reprocessing facilities
Total amount of plutonium loaded in nuclear reactors
Variation in processes at each facility
Total amount of plutonium returned
Balance

00000[JAEA Reprocessing Plant]
From separation and purification process to storage of raw material
at co-conversion process in the reprocessing plant (Note1)
Inventory as of Jan. 1, 2012 (the end of the year 2011)
Increase by separation of plutonium (the amount for one year in 2012)
Decrease by plutonium shipped out (the amount for one year in 2012)
Variation 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. 2012

752
0
0
△ 1
△ 0.2
0.0
△ 1.3
0.0
0.0
751

[JAEA Plutonium Fabrication Plant]
From raw material of MOX to fuel assembly products (Note1)
Inventory as of Jan. 1, 2012 (the end of the year 2011)
Increase by plutonium received (the amount for one year in 2012)
Decrease by plutonium shipped out (the amount for one year in 2012)
Variation 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. 2012

3,363
0
0
1
0.0
0.0
0.1
△ 0.3
0.9
3,364

[Nuclear Reactors and Other Facilities]“Joyo”, “Monju”, “Commercial Reactors”, and “R&D Facilities” (Note1)
Inventory as of Jan. 1, 2012 (the end of the year 2011)
Increase by plutonium received (the amount for one year in 2012)
increase
The amount includes the plutonium returned from oversea reprocessing plants.
andDecrease by plutonium loading (the amount for one year in 2012)
decrease
Decrease by plutonium shipped out (the amount for one year in 2012)

1,568

Inventory as of the end of Dec. 2012

1,568

6

0
0
0

[JNFL Reprocessing Plant]
From separation and purification process to storage of raw material
at mixed conversion process in the reprocessing plant (Note1)
Inventory as of Jan. 1, 2012 (the end of the year 2011)
Increase by separation of plutonium (the amount for one year in 2012)
Decrease by plutonium shipped out (the amount for one year in 2012)
Variation 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. 2012

3,612
0
0
1
△ 0.5
0.0
△ 0.9
△ 0.8
2.7
3,612

(Note 1) The total value may differ due to rounding off. “△” indicates decrease.
(Note 2) The breakdown of variation in processes at each facility includes, in addition to receipts into and shipmentsfrom 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
variation that causes the reduction of inventory is shown with “△”.
 Shipper/receiver difference:
The difference between the quantity of nuclear fuel materials as stated 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 be
unrecoverable state for the time being but which is stored, for example such plutonium contained in highlevel 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 is re-classified as the booked
inventory in order to be processed for volume reduction, etc.
 Nuclear loss:
Amount of the loss (decrease) of nuclear fuel materials due to its transformation into other elements as aresult of natural decay.
 Measured discard:
Amount of the nuclear fuel materials that has been measured or estimated on the basis of measurements,
and disposed of in such a way (vitrification, etc.) that it 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 state.

7

[Reference 3]- The Situation of Management of Separated Plutonium in Japan (2012) [Safekeeping amount][Separated plutonium insafekeeping abroad]
Total in foreigncountries

New fuel and for R&D

Unit: kgPu

1,568

(Transferred amount in a facility and variationin processes at a facility)

34,946[Total loaded amount] Amount of
plutonium loaded into reactors
Nuclear Reactors
and Other
Facilities(Transferred amount in a facility andvariation in processes at a facility)[Used amount] Amount of
Plutonium in fuelfabrication processes

0

Variation in processes

1

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

Spent
Fuels

[Total separated amount]
Amount of reprocessed
spent fuel0

Total in Japan

0

9,295

[Recovered amount]
Converted amount fromplutonium nitrate toplutonium oxide
Variation in processes

Plutonium oxide

Total shipped out

amount1,939

Plutonium in the stageof test or fabrication

978

New fuel, etc.

446

Total

3,364

0

△1

Reprocessing Facilities

Fuel Fabrication
Facilities[Safekeeping amount]00[Safekeeping amount]
Plutonium nitrate, etc.
Plutonium oxide
Total

951
3,412
4,363

(Note 1) “Safekeeping amount” shows the figure as of the end of the year 2012.
(Note 2) “Transferred amount in a facility and variation in processes at facility”
shows the figure for one year in 2012.
(Note 3) “△” indicates decrease.

8

[Reference 4]

The Amount of Plutonium Held in Japan to be Reported to the IAEA According to the
Guidelines for the Management of Plutonium(as of the end of the year 2012. 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 unirradiatedsemi-fabricated or unfinished products at fuel or otherfabricating plants or elsewhere.
3. Plutonium contained in unirradiated MOX fuel or otherfabricated products at reactor sites or elsewhere.
4. Unirradiated separated plutonium held elsewhere.

（Unit：tPu）

4.4

(4.4)

2.9

(2.9)

1.6

(1.6)

0.4

(0.4)

［Sum of lines 1-4 above］*2[9.3(9.3)](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
locations in 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 State.

0(34.9*3(35.0*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］*50)0)（Unit：tPu）

133
26
<0.5

(133)
( 26)
( <0.5)[159(159)]（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 according to the guidelines.
*3: Loss of Pu-241 due to radioactive decay is taken into account in evaluating the amountof fissile plutonium in safekeeping at the overseas reprocessing plants.
*4: Rounded to 1,000 kg plutonium.

9[Reference 5]

The Amount of Plutonium (note 1) Held in Each Country at the End of the Year 2011
Published through the IAEA in Accordance with the Guidelines for the Management of
Plutonium（Unit：tPu）＊１

Plutonium contained in spentfuel＊２

U.S

49.3

576

Russia

49.5

131

U.K.

118.2

32

France80.3

253

China＊３(13.8kg)(Checked off)

Japan

9.3

159

German2.1

102

Belgium

0.5

35

Switzerland

0.0

17

Unirradiated plutonium（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 unirradiated plutonium.
A short history of the guidelines for the management of plutonium
In Feb.1994, the nine countries, these are, U.S., Russia, the U.K., France, China,
Japan, Germany, Belgium and Switzerland started to deliberate about the establishmentof the international framework aiming to enhance the transparency of plutonium
utilization.
In Dec.1997, these nine countries decided to adopt the guidelines for the
management of plutonium that prescribes the basic principles about plutonium utilization,
the publication of the amount of plutonium held in each country and so on.
In Mar.1998, the IAEA published the amount of plutonium held in each country andits policy statement about plutonium utilization reported to the IAEA according to theguideline.

10