The Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan (FEPC) has requested Aomori Prefecture to accept its new proposal regarding the delivery of nuclear waste returned from overseas. However, the request was denied by Aomori Governor Soichiro Miyashita during a meeting at the prefectural government office. The FEPC’s Vice Chairman, Toshiharu Sasaki, presented the idea of exchanging low-level radioactive waste from foreign countries for a small amount of high-level radioactive waste and delivering it to a facility in Aomori. This nuclear waste is generated from the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel from Japanese power plants.
Governor Miyashita refused the proposal, stating that he could neither understand nor cooperate with it. The FEPC had previously made an agreement with a French nuclear operator to complete the return of low-level radioactive waste to Japan by 2033. However, due to transportation challenges and time required for constructing a new reception facility, meeting this deadline seems difficult. Therefore, the FEPC hopes to fulfill its commitment by replacing low-level waste with a smaller amount of high-level waste.
In response, Governor Miyashita emphasized prioritizing trusting relationships with Aomori residents over international credibility in business matters.
Nuclear waste refers to radioactive liquid waste that is vitrified into solid glass form through reprocessing spent nuclear fuel. In Japan, there is an ongoing construction project for a reprocessing plant in Rokkasho village in Aomori; however, completion has been repeatedly delayed. As a result, Japanese power companies have outsourced reprocessing activities to France and Britain.
Initially planned was the return of approximately 1,800 units of low-level waste stored in stainless-steel containers in France. The FEPC now proposes exchanging these units for 20 units of high-level waste with equivalent external radiation effects and temporarily storing them at an existing facility in Rokkasho.
Following their meeting with Governor Miyashita, Vice Chairman Sasaki stated that delivering nuclear waste to Aomori is seen as a necessary option by the association. He added that they will continue explaining their plan carefully to the prefecture.
In 2010, Aomori Prefecture agreed to accept low-level waste generated from spent nuclear fuel reprocessing in France and also exchange low-level British-generated waste for high-level before accepting it.