JAEA Executive Vice President Toshio Okazaki visited France from December 10th to 18th, 2005. He attended the ninth European Nuclear Conference (ENC2005) and delivered a presentation on ‘Establishment of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) -Focus on the Development of Fast Breeder Reactors -.’ He signed a new agreement with French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) due to the establishment of JAEA, visited Marcoule site at CEA Valrho Research Center and CEA Cadarache Research Center, where he exchanged views with his counterparts on future research cooperation.

1. The Ninth European Nuclear Conference (ENC 2005)
The conference, entitled ‘Nuclear Power for the 21st Century From Basic Research to High-Tech Industry’ was held on December 12 to 14 at Versailles, organized by European Nuclear Society and American Nuclear Society. From 30 countries and international organizations over the world, about 700 people participated in the conference. From Japan about 20 people attended, including Mr. Tokio Kano, a Member of the House of Councilors, Dr. Sueo Machi, a Commissioner of Japan Atomic Energy Commission, and Vice President Okazaki.

In the session entitled ‘Future Reactors and Fuels (Generation IV)’, Vice President Okazaki acted as a co-chairperson in tandem with Dr. Bouchard of CEA. In this session, he introduced JAEA's activities and future development policies on the main mission consisting of Fast Reactor Cycle, Quantum Beam Technology, Hydrogen Production, Nuclear Fusion and other research fields with a focus on the development of Fast Reactor Cycle.

Vice President Okazaki delivers presentation at ENC2005

In parallel with the conference, the ENC exhibition was held in and outside the conference hall. There were a number of exhibition booths of 67 nuclear organizations and groups from more than 10 countries. JAEA's display centered on six fields, namely, Monju, nuclear fusion, J-PARC, HTTR/hydrogen, nuclear safety and nuclear nonproliferation consisting of six exhibition panels, three LCDs (two for Monju and one for HTTR) and 16 kinds of detailed brochures. JAEA's exhibition booth, covering all fields of research and development activities and displayed, along with European research institutions, has drawn lots of attention from participants and successfully introduced the newly launched JAEA.

2. Signing of the Agreement with CEA
The signing ceremony for the ‘Framework Agreement between the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) and the Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA) for Cooperation in the Field of Nuclear Research and Development’ was held on December 13th at CEA headquaters in Paris. Vice President Okazaki and CEA Administrator General Dr. Bugat signed the agreement. This agreement is resulting from the integration of the past JNC/CEA and JAERI/CEA agreements and concluded by JAEA as a party.

Before the ceremony, Vice President Okazaki expressed his gratitude by stating, “In response to the establishment of JAEA, CEA actively cooperated to unify the past agreements since preparatory stage for the integration. We are very pleased that the agreements between CEA and JAEA was concluded within a remarkably short period of time after the integration.” Administrator General Bugat remarked, “ The realization of a future fuel cycle is a very important subject in nuclear energy utilization. I think that the basis to further promote the bilateral cooperation between Japan and France has been build on the outcomes of the past technological development. ”

Administrator General Dr. Bugat of CEA and Vice President Okazaki sign the Framework Agreement for cooperation in the Field of Nuclear Energy R&D

3. Visit to Marcoule site of CEA Valrho Research Center
CEA Marcoule is a developing site for nuclear energy located along the Rhone River valley. Vice President Okazaki visited both facilities of a fast breeder reactor “Phenix” and a research laboratory for treatment and disposal of radioactive wastes “Atalante”.

For safety reasons, Phenix was modified and reinforced since 1994 and resumed its operation in 2003. The operating rate in 2003 was 73% and increased to 84% in 2004. While generating electric power, Phenix is used for an irradiation test-bed with maximum irradiation of 18dpa/six months. Until 2009 the operation will be dedicated to experiments of the material irradiation for FBR, ADS and nuclear transmutation of minor actinides and very long-life irradiation wastes. After the experiments, these tests at Phenix will be succeeded by research and development at Monju as a part of international cooperation.

At the site visit, Vice President Okazaki remarked, “With Administrator General Bugat, I signed an agreement for cooperation between CEA and JAEA the day before yesterday. I am refreshed today to witness the very first practical activity of the agreement. I feel sorry that Phenix will finish the operation, but I would like to cooperate with CEA by providing Monju and Joyo and also would like to promote our collaboration in the field of backend.”

4. Visit at CEA Cadarache Research Center
CEA Cadarache Center, located 40km north of Marseille, is aiming to become a infrastructure center for European and international joint researches by making its nuclear energy development facilities dedicated to international joint researches. CEA Cadarache has several different facilities which consists of six experimental reactors built in 1960-1970's, hot laboratories, liquid/solid waste disposal/treatment facilities and three storage facilities for radioactive material. Furthermore, there are fuel fabrication facilities of associated company such as AREVA and nuclear fusion test facilities. It has been decided that ITER would be constructed in this area.

As for nuclear fusion, Tore Supra, a superconducting tokamak is located on the northern side of the site and the steady state has been researched. ITER will be constructed outside of the Cadarache Research Center on the northern side. Since the construction ground is a loose slope, the ground will be leveled to build ITER on. The international school for the children of ITER personnel will be constructed in a town called Manosque, which is located on the northwest of the site.

At the facility visit, Vice President Okazaki remarked “Nuclear fusion relies on ITER. The importance lies on our efforts in connecting ITER with domestic projects. As for Broader Approach, it is necessary to collaborate fully with EU. We hope to dispatch our personnel to Cadarache as soon as possible to start preparation activities.” The first foreign ITER personnel will be accepted from early January. It is possible in the Cadarache office that foreign ITER personnel complete all procedures such as foreigners' visa, resident permission and schooling.

Vice President Okazaki briefed by ITER site manager on ITER site

5. Conclusion
The impressions gained by participating in ‘ENC 2005�E signing of an agreement for cooperation between CEA-JAEA and visiting each R&D site are summarized as follows;

• Considering the increase of energy demand, soaring oil prices and necessity of the environmental protection enthrined in the Kyoto Protocol, European situation for several years has been called nuclear energy renaissance. I felt that people engaged in nuclear energy had mounting expectations and full of vigor oriented to R&D and business including EPR construction and Gen-IV.
• In this international conference, we presented exhibition booths to introduce all areas of JAEA's research activities together with European research institutions. A lot of visitors were thereby impressed by our exhibition and the establishment of JAEA was successfully introduced.
• Japan and France have shared the policy for the nuclear cycle development. By signing the new agreement with CEA following establishment of JAEA, we are able to accelerate our R&D focusing on nuclear fuel cycle.
• As big powers in nuclear energy, Japan and France both overcame the difficult period in the 80's and the 90's. I reconfirmed the great importance of steadily advancing of the development of nuclear energy to deal with energy and global warming issues with closer cooperation with France.
• The field of nuclear fusion research and development has entered into a new phase focusing on the ITER and the Broader Approach. We have to cooperate with CEA more closely in this field.
• Finally, fission as well as fusion energy developments have entered into a new era. The new era has come when Japan and France would spearhead the global research and development of nuclear energy. I have therefore reaffirmed my determination as a person serving for research and development for nuclear energy.