JAEA Sea Transport of MOX Powder

The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) is planning to transport uranium and plutonium mixed oxide (MOX) powder for the prototype fast breeder reactor “MONJU” and experimental fast reactor “JOYO.” The maximum quantity of MOX to be transported per year is estimated at 2 tons. The MOX powder will be recovered at the commercial Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant (RRP) operated by Japan Nuclear Fuels Limited (JNFL) in Rokkasho-mura on the northeast tip of Honshu (main island of Japan). Sea transport will likely be used for shipping the MOX from the RRP to the JAEA Plutonium Fuel Fabrication Facility (PFPF) in Tokai-mura on the eastern side of Honshu.