Present Status of Nuclear Fuel Material Transportation in Japan

On June 24, 1994, the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) of Japan formulated a new long-term plan, \"Long-Term Program for Research, Development and Utilization of Nuclear Energy,\" for the first time in 7 years. In this long-term program, AEC stated that the third fundamental policy of nuclear development and utilization was the \"steady development of nuclear fuel recycle taking the future into consideration.\" It is essential, it also said, to ensure the stable supply of energy while looking into the future so that Japan with limited resources can maintain and develop its economic and social activities in the future. To establish such nuclear fuel recycle policy, it is critical to transport nuclear fuel material smoothly between nuclear facilities both in Japan and abroad. Thus, safe transportation of nuclear fuel material has become more and more important.