The first transport of MOX fuel from Europe to Japan initiated in 1999 the process of recycled nuclear fuel return from Europe to Japan; it complements the transport of spent nuclear fuel from Japan to Europe (over 170 shipments) and the vitrified residues return from France to Japan (12 vitrified residue shipments). Similar MOX fuel transports will be performed in the years to come on a regular basis.

Background

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In February 1997, the Japanese government stated that, in accordance with the country's long-term nuclear energy commitment, it was necessary for Japan to start utilising MOX fuel in its commercial nuclear reactors as soon as possible. Later that month, the Japanese electric power companies unveiled their plans to utilise MOX fuel in 16 to 18 reactors.
MOX fuel is manufactured in Europe with plutonium recovered at British and French reprocessing facilities under long-standing commercial contracts between the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), AREVA (France) and Japanese electric power companies. The NDA and AREVA have an extensive track record in safely manufacturing, and transporting MOX fuel to various utilities in Europe.

Basic Schedule

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• MOX fuel is fabricated in dedicated facilities in Europe owned by AREVA or NDA.
• The MOX fuel assemblies to be used in Japanese nuclear power plants are then loaded into special transport casks.
• The sea transport of the casks from Europe to Japan takes place on dedicated ships, owned and operated by PNTL, which are specially built for transporting nuclear materials.
• On arrival in the Japanese ports, the casks are transported by road to the reactor sites where the MOX assemblies are loaded in the reactor cores.

Technical aspects

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MOX fuel is a conventional nuclear fuel made up of a mixture of uranium and plutonium. The plutonium content varies between 5 and 10% depending on the design of the fuel. MOX fuel has been used in various countries worldwide for more than three decades. 35 reactors are loaded with MOX fuel in Europe.
MOX manufacturing also is a well-established process. MOX fabrication plants have been in operation in Europe for more than 40 years. The utilisation record of MOX fuel in terms of safety, performance, and manufacturing is excellent.

Uranium and plutonium powders are mixed and homogenised. The blend is then pressed and sintered at high temperature. The ceramic, stone-like MOX fuel pellets are inserted into corrosion resistant fuel rods. The rods are assembled together to form MOX fuel assemblies. The MOX fuel assemblies are transported in a specific cask, licensed by British, French and Japanese Authorities. Each cask, designed to ensure the safety of the transport, weighs around 100 tonnes, is more than 6 m long and 2 m in diameter. It is similar to casks used for spent fuel and vitrified residues transports.

The ships are specially designed and are only used for the transport of nuclear materials. Their length is in the range of one hundred metres.
The casks and ships used, as well as the organisation of the transport meet the latest requirements of the applicable international and national regulations, including those related to safety (International Atomic Energy Agency recommendations, and International Maritime Organisation regulations).

Physical protection

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Because of its nature (it contains significant amount of fissile materials), MOX fuel is classified in the category requiring stringent measures. Extensive physical protection measures are incorporated in the transportation plan for shipping MOX fuel from Europe to Japan to ensure that the ships and their cargo are protected against threats of theft or sabotage.

Two ships, sailing together, are used to transport MOX fuel from Europe to Japan. The ships are also armed and are protected by a specially trained force, the British Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC).
For instance, some measures that are part of the protection system:
- careful selection of the route to be used.
- no scheduled port call en route.
- use of armed escorts aboard the transport ship that are independent of the crew.
- use of multiple and secure communications system.
- monitoring of the transport ship location and cargo status by an operation centre.

All these physical protection measures meet or exceed the guidelines set forth by the International Atomic Energy Agency for fissile material transports and the requirements of the 1988 U.S.-Japan Agreement for Co-operation Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy.
The physical protection system put in place for each transport of MOX fuel from Europe to Japan is carefully reviewed by the U.S. government, including experts from the defence, foreign affairs, naval, and intelligence communities. The U.S. government officially reviews and confirms that the physical protection measures are adequate and notifies Japanese Authorities of this decision.