OVERVIEW AND PROSPECTS FOR NUCLEAR POWER GENERATION IN JAPAN

摘要

Although an average capacity factor of 84.2% was recorded in FY 1998 by fifty-one nuclear power plants in Japan, the criticality accident in the Uranium processing plant of JCO Co. Ltd. (JCO), which occurred in September of 1999, had a tremendous impact on all the sectors related to nuclear power in Japan. From lessons learned from the JCO accident, both governmental and non-governmental measures to enhance safety and reliability of overall nuclear facilities in Japan have been initiated. Despite the JCO accident, nuclear power, which is now producing one third of electricity, shall continue to be one of the major sources of electricity in Japan from the standpoint to maintain sustainable economic growth. Along with continuation of safe operation of nuclear power plants, establishment of self-reliant nuclear fuel cycle is considered to be utmost important in Japan in order to secure long term energy security throughout the 21st century. A commercial Uranium enrichment plant has been in operation and a spent fuel reprocessing plant is under construction. Major progress was also seen in establishing back-end measures: the law that prescribes and governs the national scheme for final disposal of high level radioactive waste was enacted this June and an entity to construct and operate a repository is to be established.