PLUTONIUM UTILIZATION TECHNOLOGY(6)




Non-Proliferation Policy of Carter Administration
- INFCE and Fugen -
The Cater administration formed in 1977 publicized the policy to strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation, which prohibit the use of plutonium by reprocessing from spent fuels at nuclear power stations. In responding to this policy, Tokai reprocessing plant's operation which was about to start at that time was suspended because Japan imported enriched uranium from the U.S. under the "U.S.-Japan Nuclear Agreement", which obliged Japan to have the acknowledgement of the U.S. for reprocessing. And that was the beginning of the long-term negotiation between the U.S. and Japan until July 1988, when the U.S.-Japan Nuclear Agreement in the form of program approach (comprehensive pre-agreement) came into effect.
Taking root in the non-proliferation policy of Cater administration, The INFCE (International Nuclear Fuel Cycle Evaluation) was held from October 1977 to February 1980 with 66 participating countries to discuss over the acceptable nuclear fuel cycle on the ground of nuclear non-proliferation.
Fugen started its operation loading MOX fuels from the initial core in this period and INFCE was a great opportunity for Japan to announce the nuclear fuel cycle at ATR to gain international comprehension.
The Department of Energy in the U.S. consigned a survey on the nuclear policies based on the theses presented by JNC at INFCE. In this survey, the consigned think-tank made a report to the Department of Energy, which assessed Fugen as "A Mirror of Japan's Nuclear Policy" in January 1980.


What is Plutonium?
- Discovered by the research group of University of California, led by Dr.Glenn
　 T.Seaborg.
- Named "Plutonium" in 1942 after the planet "Pluto", which was found at the
　 same period.
- Plutonium one gram generates 2000 litre of oil, three ton of coal.
- Possessed quantity of plutonium in the world as of 2002:
　Commercial use: 850 ton (Equivalent to 200,000 ton of natural
　 uranium).
　Military use: 250 ton (Equivalent to 60,000 ton of natural
　 uranium).
- Consuming quantity of natural uranium in the world:
　 61,000 to 63,000 ton per year

* Uranium was named after the planet "Uranus"