For the first time, Japan may allow India to reprocess spent nuclear fuel from Japanese-made reactor

[$@rJen]

For the first time, Japan may allow India to reprocess spent nuclear fuel from Japanese-made reactors
Published June 19, 2015 | By admin
SOURCE : ECONOMIC TIMES

In a significant development that could have positive bearing on proposed Indo-Japan civil nuclear deal, Tokyo is likely to change its policy to allow reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel from Japanese-made reactors.

In what could be a major shift in Japan’s nuclear non-proliferation strategy, Tokyo for the first time has approved reprocessing of nuclear fuel by a country using Japanese-made reactors, official sources said from Tokyo.Since the 2011 Fukushima tragedy, Japan had concluded civil pacts with six countries including Jordan, Russia, Turkey and Vietnam, but has not approved reprocessing of spent fuel generated by Japanese-made nuclear reactors.

Indo-Japan civil nuclear deal has remained elusive despite several rounds of negotiations since 2010 and Narendra Modi’s maiden trip to Japan as PM last year and his personal chemistry with his counterpart Shinzo Abe.

Bilateral negotiations, re-launched post Fukushima last September, got momentum after Modi became the PM with Japan as one of his foreign policy priorities. Japan has been consistent on its position on India’s non-NPT status and tougher safeguards on reprocessing of spent fuel supplied to Indian reactors. Indian position has also been clear as it considers NPT as discriminatory, official sources said, adding India has signed nuclear deals with NPT signatories like USA, Canada and Australia.

Posted in India

 

[Azz Kikr]

from how many countries are we going to buy reactors. Russian reactors are doing their job fine. If we can even make Thorium based reactors then why we have to import Uranium based reactors from foreign countries. cant we make them on their own?

 

[anant_s]

n a significant development that could have positive bearing on proposed Indo-Japan civil nuclear deal, Tokyo is likely to change its policy to allow reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel from Japanese-made reactors.

This step is important for Jaitapur NPP proposed to be built by France.
The Reactor Pressure Vessel is slated to be supplied by Japanese Steel and engineering firms and hence will be a part of liability agreement. For this India needs to sign a Civil N Agreement with Japan, but Japan had reservations with respect to India being a non signatory of NPT.
However 123 agreement and some deft diplomacy later, countries are coming aboard and signing deals in sector with India.

 

[chhota bheem]

India-Japan bahi bhai,I am sure Japan wont regret or would say will be happy ,with what we intend to do with the reprocessed spent fuel

 

[sathya]

Now we can see. U2 deal being signed..

 

[Hindustani78]

The Chairman and Chief Executive, NFC, N Saibaba, said the complex has seen a record production of nuclear fuel. “Thanks to our innovation, we have managed to produce 1,252 metric tonnes of nuclear fuel, which is the largest in the world. We only had the capacity to produce just 850 metric tonnes. We are prepared to meet any kind of demands in the near future in the defence sector,” Dr. Saibaba said.

 

[Rocky25]

The Chairman and Chief Executive, NFC, N Saibaba, said the complex has seen a record production of nuclear fuel. “Thanks to our innovation, we have managed to produce 1,252 metric tonnes of nuclear fuel, which is the largest in the world. We only had the capacity to produce just 850 metric tonnes. We are prepared to meet any kind of demands in the near future in the defence sector,” Dr. Saibaba said.

Hope security should be the foremost with Nuclear Power reactors, Do any one know the capacity of Japanese reactors?

Also the states which hosts the reactors should get the lion's share than the neighboring states!

Though off topic, India should concentrate on Bloom Box... Again invented by an Indian!

 

[Hindustani78]

Hope security should be the foremost with Nuclear Power reactors, Do any one know the capacity of Japanese reactors?

Also the states which hosts the reactors should get the lion's share than the neighboring states!

Though off topic, India should concentrate on Bloom Box... Again invented by an Indian!

Because of the security only , this nuclear insurance pool is there which is under Nuclear Liability Law.

There are 48 operational Nuclear reactors in Japan. At the end of 2013 Japan’s ten power companies were reported to have 55,610 used fuel assemblies, 13,236 tonnes, stored at 18 nuclear power plants.The new Rokkasho plant will treat 14,000 tonnes of used fuel stockpiled there to end of 2005 plus 18,000 tonnes of used fuel arising from 2006, over some 40 years. Eventually at 800 t/yr it will produce about 4 tonnes of fissile plutonium per year, enough for about 80 tonnes of MOX fuel.

 

[IND151]

Interesting news.

 

[Rocky25]

Because of the security only , this nuclear insurance pool is there which is under Nuclear Liability Law.

There are 48 operational Nuclear reactors in Japan. At the end of 2013 Japan’s ten power companies were reported to have 55,610 used fuel assemblies, 13,236 tonnes, stored at 18 nuclear power plants.The new Rokkasho plant will treat 14,000 tonnes of used fuel stockpiled there to end of 2005 plus 18,000 tonnes of used fuel arising from 2006, over some 40 years. Eventually at 800 t/yr it will produce about 4 tonnes of fissile plutonium per year, enough for about 80 tonnes of MOX fuel.

I hope the Insurance pool is to pay the people who are affected by Radiation exposure. Not to prevent/minimize the radiation.... Please advise if I am wrong.

 

[Bornubus]

Japan (govt) is ready to do many things for the first time in recent years.

 

[Hindustani78]

I hope the Insurance pool is to pay the people who are affected by Radiation exposure. Not to prevent/minimize the radiation.... Please advise if I am wrong.

The pool will address third party liability insurance under Civil Liability of Nuclear Damage Act (CLNDA) 2010 to begin with and later expand into property and other hot zone risk for which it will work in close co-ordination with nuclear power industry.

“New India Assurance will issue the insurance policy and deal with the management of cover to the operator and suppliers on behalf of all direct insurance companies participating in the pool,” said G Srinivasan, chairman and managing director of New India Assurance.

 

[Rocky25]

You are not answering to the point... The insurance have nothing to do with the technical components or how the Nuclear reactor functions, Does it prevents the nuclear accidents?

Yes or No.... Plain and simple.

 

[anant_s]

Do any one know the capacity of Japanese reactors?

~1350 MWe.
the reactors are Advanced Boiling Water Reactors.

ABWR Nuclear Power Plant | GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy

For the safety part you mentioned,
these reactors have a Probabilistic Safety Analysis determined Core Damage Frequency (CDF) of 10e-7 against accepted 10e-6 (10 time better than global norms).

 

[Dr Gupta]

Three big changes that will give boost to India’s nuclear programme

Came across this article today