Promotion of nuclear fuel recycling will continue

October 22, 2015

Govt.: Nuclear fuel recycling policy unchanged

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/nuclear.html

Oct. 22, 2015 - Updated 19:01 UTC+2

Japan's newly-appointed industry minister says the central government will continue to promote nuclear fuel recycling.

Motoo Hayashi made the remark on Thursday in a meeting with Aomori Prefecture Governor Shingo Mimura.

The northeastern prefecture hosts the country's first fuel reprocessing plant. But its completion has been postponed many times due to repeated problems during test runs.

Governor Mimura asked Hayashi for the government to promote the fuel recycling policy in a responsible and stable manner.

Mimura also asked the minister not to make his prefecture the final disposal site for the high-level radioactive waste from reactors in the country.

The prefecture has only allowed the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel.

Hayashi said the government will keep its promise not to build the final disposal site in Aomori. He said the site will be determined by consensus from the Japanese populace at large and the local community involved.

The governor said he values Hayashi's words clarifying the government's fundamental stance. Mimura added that he will continue to closely watch the actions of the government and the plant's operator, so that he can ensure the safety and security of people in the prefecture.