DELAY TO COMPLETION DATE FOR JAPAN'S MOX

UNCLAS TOKYO 001387 SIPDIS DEPT FOR ISN/NESS AND EAP/J DOE FOR OFFICE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ENRG KNNP TRGY PREL PUNE IAEA JA SUBJECT: DELAY TO COMPLETION DATE FOR JAPAN'S MOX CONVERSION PROGRAM ¶1. (U) The scheduled completion date for Japan's program of converting Light Water Reactors (LWRs) so that they are able to use Mixed Plutonium Uranium Oxide (MOX) fuel has slipped from 2010 to 2015. Japan's Federation of Electric Power Companies (FEPC) issued a press release announcing the revision of the schedule for up to 18 LWRs. Seven of these reactors have received all the required government approvals and the eighth has approval of the local government something which is usually the most problematic requirement. However, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry suspects local opposition will make it difficult for some of the remaining reactors to get the necessary approvals. ¶2. (U) Despite the slip in the overall schedule, some reactors will be converted soon. The Kyushu Genkai No. 3 conversion starts this summer with MOX operations starting this fall. Four other reactors have MOX fuel on-site that has been fabricated in France from Japanese plutonium and three of these have all government approvals for conversion to MOX. Japan, in April, had announced a slip in the scheduled completion date from 2012 to 2015 for its MOX fuel fabrication facility under construction at the Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited Rokkasho site. Once completed, the Rokkasho facility is to provide MOX fuel for these LWRs. ZUMWALT