Saturday, May 23, 2009

MOX fuel arrives amid strong protest

AFP – Anti-nuclear protesters demonstrate against a MOX fuel shipment carried by the Pacific Heron (background) …

Two cargo ships carrying recycled nuclear fuel arrived May 18 in Japan from France for the planned introduction of plutonium-thermal power generation in the fall, power company officials said.

One of the two armed ships entered a port near Chubu Electric Power Co.'s Hamaoka nuclear power plant in Omaezaki, Shizuoka Prefecture, the first stop for the delivery of plutonium and uranium mixed oxide, or MOX, fuel.

The ships will also deliver the fuel, a combination of uranium and plutonium extracted from spent nuclear fuel, to Kyushu Electric Power Co.'s Genkai nuclear power plant in Saga Prefecture and Shikoku Electric Power Co.'s Ikata plant in Ehime Prefecture.

The fuel was manufactured in France on an order placed by the three utilities and will be used in conventional uranium-burning light-water reactors.

Anti-nuclear groups staged demonstrations against the pluthermal power generation plan.

The Japan Times Weekly: May 23, 2009


http://www.japantimes.co.jp/weekly/news/nn2009/nn20090523a1.htm

No comments: