050109 日本の核燃料サイクル問題に関する海外の見方

日本の核燃料サイクル政策は、相変わらず国際的にも注目を集めております。小生が日頃参加し

ている米国のある電子メール会議でも、最近の笠沙町(宇治諸島)の高レベル廃棄物貯蔵所問題、

エルバラダイ提案(濃縮・再処理施設等の５年間凍結)と六ヶ所再処理工場問題、「もんじゅ」運転

再開と最高裁審理等々について色々な議論が行われております。この関連で本日小生が発信した

メールと、その元になった米国人のメールをご披露します。ご参考まで。

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A quick note on Mr. William Stonehill's posting re "Nuclear waste disposal and

nuclear reprocessing":

1. The mayor of Kasasa-cho (Kagoshima-ken) has just withdrawn his proposal to offer

the Uji islands as a candidate for permanent repository of high-level nuclear waste.

Reportedly he was forced to cancel his proposal in the face of opposition of

a substantial number of the Town Council members. It remains to be seen whether the

proposal will be revived or not through negotiations among the local people concerned.

The mayor and his supporters seem attracted by the financial benefits which would be

provided them in case they accept the nuclear waste into the island.

2. Dr. ElBaradei, the director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency

(headquartesd in Vienna, Austria) announced his proposal for 5-year moratorium

on the construction of "new" nuclear facilities such as those for uranium enrichment

and spent fuel reprocessing. It is widely understood, however, that the Rokkasho-mura

reprocessing facility, which had been completed and began its test operation already

last month following the agreement signed between the Aomori-ken and JNFL, will not be

affected by this moratorium even if it is officially adopted. The proposed moratorium

itself is very much open to the criticism by developing countries as it will violate

their "inalienable right" to benefit from nuclear technology provided for in Article 4

of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) of 1970. At any rate, the issue is

bound to be hotly discussed at the forthcoming NPT review conference in New York

3. The question of "Monju", Japan's prototype fast breeder reactor, is now before

the Supreme Court. The first oral presentations will take place in mid-March.

Earlier in January 2003, the Kanazawa branch of the Nagoya High Court ruled that

the licensing process for "Monju" was not lawful, and null and void. The defendant,

the government of Japan, made an immediate appeal to the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, the operation of "Monju" has continued stopped since the sodium

leakage accident in 1995. An agreement is expected to be reached shortly between

the Fukui-ken (where the prototype reactor is located) and the JNC, its operator,

to resume the operation, irrespective of the Supreme Court decision.

That means that Japan's FBR program is very much alive!

President, Japan Council on Energy & Security,

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Subject: Nuclear waste disposal and nuclear reprocessing

Several times in the past I've posted messages about the lack of a
facility to dispose of high level nuclear waste in Japan and the problems
involved. It seems as though at least one of the leading political problems

with a facility of this sort has been overcome by the municipality of Kasasa

on the tip of Kyushu offering two uninhabited islands within it's
municipality, Iejima and Mukojima, part of the Uji island chain, the first
response that has been received in the over two years that have passed
since METI began looking for candidates. As the Asahi sourly observes,
high level nuclear waste must be buried 300 meters below ground
"semi-eternally" and there are also necessary qualifications for lack of
volcanic or seismic activity, which might be difficult to meet anywhere in
Japan. But, at least a start has been made and now it remains to be seen
what the political battles will be before either of these islands ever
becomes Japan's high level nuclear waste depository. However, the location
does seem to be good, as it is only about 120 kilometers from Tanegashima
and about 60 kilometers off Kyushu, so security is not a primary worry.

However, Japan's nuclear program is facing other challenges. Today, in an
interview, the head of the nuclear regulatory agency said that he will
seek a five year immediate freeze on all new uranium enrichment and
related facilities as well as those currently being built. This, of course
includes Rokkomura. This could well be the death knell for Japan's fast
breeder program.

W.T.Stonehill