Russia and Japan discuss options for recycling wasted nuclear fuel from Fukushima

Russia and Japan are discussing options for removal of spent nuclear fuel from the reactors of the Fukushima nuclear power plant and its recycling, a source with the Russian nuclear industry told TASS.


"They are discussing options of removal and recycling spent nuclear fuel from the reactors of the Fukushima nuclear power plant," he said.

The source stressed that the relevant discussions were also held during the meeting of Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshige Seko and Russia’s Economic Development And Tarde Minister Alexei Ulyukayev. Further discussions will be held within three working groups - on hydrocarbons, energy supply and renewable energy sources.

In March 2011 a strong earthquake triggered a high tsunami off the north-eastern coast of Japan. A gigantic wave hit the nuclear power plant Fukushima-1 that resulted in the most devastating nuclear disaster since the Chernobyl nuclear power plant catastrophe in 1986.

Earlier TASS reported that, German subsidiary of Russian nuclear corporation Rosatom - Nukem Technologies (NUKEM) signed a contract with the Japanese Mitshubishi Heavy Industries for the preparation of a feasibility study on liquidation of aftermath of the Fukushima disaster.

The feasibility study is part of a national research project, initiated by the Government of Japan for the development of technologies to dismantle the damaged reactors at the nuclear power plant.
Mitshubishi Heavy Industries will act as the main contractor at the plant site.

NUKEM was to prepare a concept of transportation of cells with extracted fragments of fuel.
Russia has repeatedly offered its assistance in liquidation of the aftermath of the accident at Fukushima.
[tass.com]
3/11/16