Japans Nuclear Energy Policy : Nuclear Allergy Countrys Dependence on Nuclear

1
Japans Nuclear Energy Policy Nuclear Allergy
Countrys Dependence on Nuclear

• 2007 Critical Issues Forum
• Teacher Development Workshop
• Topic Nuclear Renaissance Benefits vs Risks
• Nov. 15-17, 2007
• Masako Toki, CNS Research Associate

2
Japans Basic Nuclear Policy

• Atomic Energy Basic Law, 1955
• -- Peaceful use of nuclear energy
• Three Non-Nuclear Principles, 1968
• Compliance with international regime
• Joined NPT in 1976
• Active player in strengthening the global regime

3
Background

• The only country that suffered from nuclear
  devastation
• Almost no indigenous energy sources
• Large energy consumption with scarce natural
  resources
• More than 80 of energy imported
• Efforts to minimize dependence on current
  imports.
• Increasing reliance on nuclear energy

Aug.6, 1945, Hiroshima, 140,000 killed
Aug.9, 1945, Nagasaki, 74,000 killed
4
Japans Nuclear Energy Facts

• First commercial nuclear power reactor began
  operation in mid 1966
• Japan imports nearly all of its energy resources
  including uranium.
• Over 30 of its power needs are supplied by
  nuclear energy.
• Projected to be 37 in 2009, 41 in 2014
• 55 Nuclear power reactors across the country
  produce approximately 50 gigawatts of energy (2
  under construction, 11 planned. )

5
Source Japan Atomic Energy Agency
6
Legal Basis

• The Atomic Energy Basic Law 1955
• Article 2 (Basic policy)
• The research, development and utilization of
  atomic energy shall be limited to peaceful
  purposes, aimed at ensuring safety and performed
  independently under democratic management, the
  results therefrom shall be made public to
  contribute to international cooperation.
• NPT
• Japan signed the NPT in 1970, and acceded in 1976
• Reluctance to join the NPT at first mainly due to
  its discriminatory nature, internal debates over
  possible nuclearization, and concern over nuclear
  energy
• Commitment to nuclear nonproliferation and
  disarmament remains unchanged since its
  accession.
• Bilateral agreement on peaceful use
• US, UK, France, China, Australia, and Kazakhstan

7
Brief History of Nuclear Program and Policy

• Atoms for Peace speech by Eisenhower in 1953.
• Started nuclear research program in 1954
• Atomic energy basic law 1955
• Inauguration of the Atomic Energy Commission 1956
• The Science Technology agency, Japan Atomic
  Energy Research Institute, and Atomic Fuel
  Corporation were established under the law
• Imported its first commercial nuclear power
  reactor from the UK.
• Light water reactors, boiling water reactors, or
  pressurized water reactors have been constructed.
  (began commercial operation in 1970).
• By the end of the 1970s, Japanese industry
  (Hitachi, Toshiba, Mitsubishi Heavy Industry
  developed the capacity to design and construct
  LWR. Exports to other countries.)
• Nuclear energy has been a national strategic
  priority since 1973 (Oil Shock)

8
Promoting Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy through
Pop-culture?

• Animation (Manga)Astro Boy????? (Mighty Atom)
• Produced in 1952, became one of the most popular
  TV series in Japan (1963-1966)
• The boys name is Atom Incredible strength, a
  number of special abilities, with the heart of
  gold. His energy source is Nuclear Power.
• This Nov., he was appointed to an Ambassador for
  Safe Oversea Trip by the Ministry of Foreign
  Affairs in Japan

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vD4HVYZhohGw
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vgtAvZXuHbNU

9
Current Policy of Japans Nuclear Power Program

• Kyoto Protocol 2002
• Japan would heavily rely on nuclear energy to
  achieve greenhouse gas emission reduction,
• Promoting nuclear fuel cycle
• On the Nuclear Fuel Cycle by Japans Atomic
  Energy Commission, Aug 5, 2003. A broad overview
  of the nuclear fuel cycle and guidelines
• New Framework for Nuclear Energy Policy by
  Japan Atomic Energy Commission, October 11, 2005
• Continue to have nuclear power as a major element
  of electricity production
• Develop fast breeder reactors in order to improve
  uranium utilization dramatically
• Steady promotion of measures for geological
  disposal of high level radioactive waste
• Promote nuclear energy to the public

10
Major Nuclear Power Plant accidents

• 1995 Monju (Fukui prefecture) (Prototype Fast
  Breeder Reactor, shut down since the 1995 sodium
  leak and fire accident
• 1999 Tokaimura, Three workers received high
  doses of radiation. Two died.
• 2003 17 TEPCO plants shut down over falsified
  safety records
• 2004 Mihama, 5 workers were killed by steam from
  corroded pipe
• July 2007 Kashiwazaki Kariya, damaged by
  earthquake

11
Japans Nuclear Fuel Cycle Policy

• Japan is pursuing a closed nuclear fuel cycle.
• Resource-poor Japans need to recycle uranium,
  semi domestic energy source.
• Currently, Japans spent nuclear fuels have been
  reprocessed in the UK and France
• Tokai reprocessing plant since commencing pilot
  operation in 1977. But small amount. (200 ton
  per year)
• Construction of new nuclear fuel cycle facilities
  in Rokkasho Village.

12
Plutonium Production Program

• Committed to development of a self-sufficient
  plutonium-based nuclear fuel cycle. utmost
  importance
• Construction of Fast Breeder Reactors and
  reprocessing facilities. Fast breeder reactors
  will be introduced commercially by 2050
  (currently, only prototype exists)
• Establishment of Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited
  (JNFL) for a large reprocessing plant 1980.
• Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant construction
• Plutonium stockpile enough for 10,000 weapons.
• Separated Pu5.9 tons in Japan and 37.8 tons in
  overseas as of the end of Dec. 2005 (Japan Atomic
  Energy Agency)

Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor Monju
Experimental Fast Breeder Reactor Joyo
13
Rokkasho Plutonium Reprocessing Plant

• First commercial nuclear fuel reprocessing plant
  in Japan, and first in a NNWS.
• Began active testing on March 31, 2006 after many
  delays much policy debate.
• Rokkasho spent fuel recycling complex plans to
  have five facilities
• A reprocessing plant
• A MOX fuel fabrication facility (planned)
• A uranium enrichment facility
• A high level radioactive waste storage and
  management center
• A low level radioactive waste disposal center
• Increasing concerns
• plan to separate and stockpile up to 8 MT of
  plutonium annuallythe equivalent of 1,000
  nuclear bombs each yearcalls into question
  Japan's commitment to strengthening the NPT
• The facility would undermine international
  efforts to discourage other countrieslike Iran
  and North Koreafrom pursuing nuclear fuel cycle
  facilities that could be used for nuclear weapons
  programs.

14
Rokkasho nuclear facilities

Reprocessing Plant
Spent Fuel Receiving and Storage Facilities
Source Japans Nuclear Power
15
Rokkasho Nuclear Facilities
Uranium Enrichment Plant
Low level radioactive disposal center
Mox fabrication plant
Source Japans nuclear power program, Federation
of Electric Power companies of Japan
Vitrified Waste Storage
16
Transportation of Nuclear Materials
Source Japans nuclear power program, Federation
of Electric Power companies of Japan
17
Japans Policy toward Multilateral Nuclear Fuel
Cycle

• Highly suspicious of
• proposals for Multilateral
• Approaches to the Nuclear Fuel Cycle.
• How MNA contributes to nonproliferation?
• Also concern over the restriction of peaceful
  uses of nuclear energy.
• Japan is extremely sensitive about the
  restriction of energy resources

18
Japans efforts in strengthening nuclear
disarmament and nonproliferation regime.

• Full compliance with IAEASafeguards
• IAEA Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and
  Additional Protocol
• Strengthen IAEA Safeguards
• Nuclear Safety
• Nuclear Security (Physical Protection)
• Development of proliferation resistant nuclear
  technology
• Management of spent fuel and radioactive waste
  disposal
• Human resource development
• Early entry into force of the CTBT
• Early commencement of negotiations on the FMCT
• Submission of draft resolution for disarmament to
  the UNGA
• Assisting denuclearization of the FSU
• Contribution to the G-8 Global Partnership
  against the spread of WMD
• Strengthening export controls, assistance to
  countries in the region
• GNEP
• Japans proposal to the IAEA
• Bilateral agreements

19
Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP)

• Japan is in the nuclear fuel supply side of the
  GNEP
• US-Japan Joint Nuclear Energy Action Plan
• Cooperation of nuclear energy R D to advance new
  technologies
• Collaboration on policies and programs supporting
  new NPP in the US and Japan
• Establishment of and intl nuclear fuel supply
  assurance mechanism
• Joint collaboration to support safe and secure
  expansion of nuclear energy in interested
  countries while promoting nonproliferation

20
Industrial Aspect

• Restructuring of Nuclear Industry
• Toshiba Westinghouse
• Hitachi GE
• Areva Mitsubishi
• Pursuit of active policy of uranium export
• Japan- Kazakhstan

21
Conclusion Japans dual objectives Total
Elimination of Nuclear Weapons vs. Peaceful Use
of Nuclear Energy

• Nuclear powerindispensable, but not a panacea
• Recover gain public trust Transparency and
  dialogue
• Consistent negative public perception to nuclear
  energy.
• Still need alternative energy sources, but for
  the foreseeable future, necessary?

22
Resources

• Japan Atomic Energy Agency, http//www.jaea.go.jp/
  english/index.shtml
• Japan Atomic Energy Commission,
  http//www.aec.go.jp/jicst/NC/eng/index.htm
• Nuclear Safety Commission of Japan,
  http//www.nsc.go.jp/english/english.htm
• Nuclear Industrial Safety Agency,
  http//www.nisa.meti.go.jp/english/index.htm
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs Atomic Energy
  webpage, http//www.mofa.go.jp/policy/energy/index
  .html
• Japans Nuclear Power Program, http//www.japannuc
  lear.com/
• Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited, http//www.jnfl.co.jp/
  english/index.html
• Council for Nuclear Fuel Cycle,
  http//www.cnfc.or.jp/index_e.html
• Citizens Nuclear Information Center,
  http//cnic.jp/english/index.html
• World Nuclear Association, Nuclear Power in
  Japan, http//www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf79.htm
  l
• Thinking the Unthinkable Japanese nuclear power
  and proliferation in east Asia,
  http//www.oxfordresearchgroup.org.uk/publications
  /briefing_papers/japanreport.php
• Japans Plutonium Reprocessing Dilemma,
  http//www.armscontrol.org/act/2005_10/Oct-Japan.a
  sp
• Federation of Electronic Power Companies of
  Japan, http//www.fepc.or.jp/english/
• Nuclear Information, http//kakujoho.net/e/index.h
  tml