KEY ASPECTS OF THE SECOND PROGRESS REPORT IN THE JAPANESE R&D PROGRAMME FOR HLW DISPOSAL

摘要

The Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute (JNC), successor to the Power Reactor andNuclear Fuel Development Corporation (PNC) as of 1st October 1998, is currently preparing asecond progress report (tentatively entitled H12) on research and development for geologicaldisposal of high-level waste (HLW) in Japan. The H12, which documents progress made sincethe publication of the first progress report (H3) in 1992, will be presented to the JapaneseGovernment for assessment by the year 2000. The purpose of the work was specified in a reportpublished in April 1997 by the Advisory Committee on Nuclear Fuel Cycle Backend Policy ofthe Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) entitled 'Guidelines on Research and DevelopmentRelating to Geological Disposal of High-Level Radioactive Waste in Japan' (hereafter the AECGuidelines). The primary objective of the H12, as specified in the AEC Guidelines, is to presentan outline of 'the technical reliability of geological disposal in Japan'. It should also provideinput for the siting and regulatory processes, which will be set in motion after the year 2000.