[NukeNet] Active Tests Begin at Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant

[Citizens' Nuclear Information Center]

Media Release (31 March 2006)

A Sad Day for Nuclear Non-Proliferation

"Efforts to stem the tide of nuclear proliferation were dealt a huge 
blow today, as Japan commenced active tests at the Rokkasho 
reprocessing plant", said Hideyuki Ban, Co-Director of the Tokyo based 
Citizens' Nuclear Information Center.

The plant, located in Aomori Prefecture in the north of Japan's largest 
island, began separating plutonium from spent nuclear fuel for the 
first time at 2:58pm Japan time.

"While the world's attention is diverted by the nuclear ambitions of 
Iran and North Korea, Japan has strengthened the position of countries 
which wish to develop weapons-usable technologies. Japan wants to be 
treated as an exception, but it is ignoring the international 
ramifications of its actions."

"Japan has justified its reprocessing policy on the grounds that it 
mixes plutonium with uranium to form a mixed oxide known as MOX. It 
says this is proliferation-resistant, but this is a deliberate 
misrepresentation of the risks associated with MOX."

The International Atomic Energy Agency defines MOX as a 'special 
fissionable material' and a 'direct use material'. It can be converted 
into weapons material in the order of one to three weeks1.

"The Japanese government has knowingly misled the Japanese public and 
the international community on this point."

The owner of the Rokkasho reprocessing plant, Japan Nuclear Fuel Ltd, 
plans to reprocess 430 tons of spent fuel during the active test phase, 
which is scheduled to continue for 17 months. During this period, it 
will separate between 3 and 4 tons of plutonium, enough for about 500 
Nagasaki-type nuclear weapons. If the plant ever operates at full 
capacity it will separate up to 8 tons of plutonium from spent nuclear 
fuel each year.

Mr. Ban said, "Commencing reprocessing at Rokkasho will only add to 
Japan's plutonium surplus. Japan already has a plutonium stockpile of 
43 tons. We estimate that this will increase to about 70 tons by the 
end of 2010 if the Rokkasho reprocessing plant operates according to 
plan."

Mr, Ban added, "Besides the proliferation risks, the beginning of 
active tests also marks the beginning of large-scale radioactive 
pollution from the plant. It is impossible to operate the Rokkasho 
reprocessing plant without discharging radioactivity with the liquid 
and gaseous wastes. The radioactivity released in one day of operation 
is equivalent to the radioactivity released from a nuclear reactor in 
one year."

"There are benchmarks for the amount of radioactivity that may be 
released, but there is no guarantee that releases will be kept within 
these benchmarks. The marine environment downstream from Rokkasho will 
be permanently degraded and radioactivity released into the atmosphere 
will reach major cities in Aomori Prefecture, including Aomori, 
Hirosaki, and Hachinohe."

1. IAEA Safeguards Glossary, 2001 Edition, p.22 (3.13) and p.32 (4.16)

Contacts
Hideyuki Ban, CNIC Co-Director (Phone 81-3-5330-9520)
Philip White, CNIC International Liaison Officer (Phone 81-3-5330-9520)

Citizens' Nuclear Information Center
3F Kotobuki Bdg, 1-58-15, Higashi-Nakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo 164-0003
Phone: 81-3-5330-9520
Fax: 81-3-5330-9530
http://cnic.jp/english/
cnic at nifty.com