Below are some of key excerpts from the Government of Japan's "Long-Term Program for Research, Development and Utilization of Nuclear Energy," published in November 2000 by the Atomic Energy Commission. (This is an "Unofficial Translation" from the Japanese original.)
Considerations in Securing Energy Supply (Part I, Chapter 3, Section 1-2)
Looking at the climate surrounding the world's supply of energy, it is apparent that consideration must be given to the rapid increase in energy consumption in developing countries in Asia. With the 21st century near at hand, the world is confronted by a number of problems such as population increases and environmental disruptions. These and other problems are closely connected with the energy issue. How a stable supply of energy and environmental protection can be achieved simultaneously is a key question that must be answered.
In Japan, the government entrusts private business enterprises with providing energy, taking full advantage of their search for economic efficiency. But the government must implement appropriate measures to guide such businesses from a long-term perspective in order to secure a stable supply of energy, protect the environment and promote the public interest.
The first priority in Japanese energy supply policy is securing the steady supply of energy necessary to support the lives of the people. What is important in this regard is to take measures with due consideration for the geographical-and-resource facts that, unlike the United States or Europe, Japan is an island nation that cannot exchange energy supplies with neighboring countries through transmission lines or pipelines, and that it is poor in energy resources and relies on foreign suppliers for most of its energy requirements. To this end, efforts are needed to diversify overseas suppliers of major energy resources and to create an adequate stockpiling base in order to provide for all contingencies, including supply cutoffs.
Moreover, because, among economically and industrially advanced nations, Japan has the highest rate of primary energy dependence on oil, and an alarmingly high rate of reliance on Middle Eastern oil imports, an important strategy involves the use of alternative energy sources to the extent feasible.
-------------
Comparative Importance of Nuclear Power Generation in Japan's Energy Supply (Part I, Chapter 3, Section 1-4)
In order for Japan to sustain the high quality of life of its people, and to create a recycling-oriented society suitable for the 21st century, it is vitally important that the nation's energy supply-and-demand structure itself be altered. To this end, the Japanese government, by employing various regulatory and incentive means, must make constant efforts to secure a proper level of resource stockpiles, enhance the efficiency of energy utilization technologies, make reforms in various social systems, bring about shifts in lifestyles, promote energy conservation, and stimulate to the fullest extent possible the use of renewable energy sources according to their specific quantity and quality characteristics.
At the same time, it is a wise and rational policy for the Japanese government to continue making the fullest possible use of nuclear power generation as one of the mainstays of the nation's energy supply, considering the geographical and resource conditions of Japan, a nation poor in energy resources, and taking the energy uncertainties of the future into account. Moreover, nuclear power generation already supplies the nation with more than one-third of total domestic power output, thereby contributing to improving energy self sufficiency and stability of the energy supply, as well as playing an important role in reducing the nation's carbon dioxide emissions.
Thus, the share of nuclear power generation in the power generating mix should be maintained at an appropriate level, from the viewpoint of coping with changing circumstances, and of moving Japan's energy supply system toward one that provides high economic efficiency and supply stability, while producing tolerably small amounts of carbon dioxide emissions. At that time, disposal of radioactive waste should be implemented safely and steadily, with sufficient consideration given to securing safety and nuclear non-proliferation.
-------------
Significance of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle for Japan (Part I, Chapter 3, Section 2-2)
From the state of the world in general, and the situation in Japan in particular, it is apparent that diverse efforts must be made over the long term to secure a steady supply of energy through technological means.
Nuclear power generation contributes to economic efficiency, supply stability and the environmental acceptability of Japan's energy supply systems. Nuclear fuel cycle technologies have the potential to improve further on these attributes, and to permit the benefits of nuclear power generation to be enjoyed for a longer period of time. Technology for reprocessing spent fuel, rather than directly disposing of it, and recovering plutonium and uranium for use as fuel, require facilities enabling nuclear material control as well as safety control, in light of the nature of such technology, which is to chemically treat material with high radioactivity and separate plutonium and other elements, necessitating, therefore, a great deal of facility investment. On the other had, such technology economizes on uranium resources and improves supply stability. It is, therefore, appropriate to basically reprocess spend fuel and make effective use of plutonium, uranium and other elements, while securing safety and nuclear non-proliferation. Taking economic efficiency into account, Japan should make the reprocessing of spent fuel and the use of recovered plutonium and uranium its basic policy, considering the geographical and resource conditions of the country.
-------------
Making Japan's Policy and System of Adherence to the Peaceful Use of Nuclear (Part I, Chapter 4, Section 2-1)
From the very beginning of its effort, Japan has pushed forward with its research, development and utilization of nuclear energy solely for peaceful purposes in accordance with the Atomic Energy Basic Law, and on the principles of democracy, independence and openness. Japan should make clear to the rest of the world that it is committed to the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Japan should make greater efforts to show the international community that it is upholding the three non-nuclear principles -- not possessing nuclear weapons, not producing them and not permitting their introduction in Japan -- and fully discharging its duties in accordance with the NPT; that nuclear armament is not recognized as serving its national interests; and that transparency in its nuclear administration is assured through the international regime.
-------------
Promotion of Activities to Gain International Understanding on Japan's Plutonium Use Policy (Part I, Chapter 4, Section 2-2)
In order for Japan to proceed with the use of plutonium, it should not only strictly maintain the principle of peaceful use, but also make continued efforts to obtain the understanding and trust of the international community, including efforts to actively disseminate information on the measures it is taking to insure that peaceful use. Japan, as one of the leading nuclear power nations and a non-nuclear-weapon state, should make clear the necessity, safety and economic aspects of its plutonium use policy. Moreover, based on the principle of not holding surplus plutonium, i.e. plutonium for no specific purpose, Japan should consider and implement specific policy measures to further improve transparency in its use of plutonium.
-------------
MOX Fuel Utilization in Light Water Reactors (Part II, Section 3-3)
MOX fuel utilization in light water reactors makes effective use of uranium resources, serves as an alternative method for supplying fuel for nuclear power generation, and helps improve the stability of that fuel supply. In addition, this process is expected to contribute to the development of the industrial infrastructure and social climate needed for full-scale resource-recycling in the nuclear fuel cycle in the future. The process has been used on a commercial scale in other countries since the 1980s, and, based on the results of basic studies carried out at home and demonstration tests conducted with commercial reactors since the second half of the 1980s, Japan is also beginning commercial use. Electric utilities plan to gradually increase the number of light-water reactor plants using MOX fuel to a total of from 16 to 18 by the year 2010.
There is room for further improvement of this process in terms of its economic efficiency. In view of the technical features described above, preparations for its introduction, the past record of its use, and the assessment of its safety at home and abroad, it is reasonable and appropriate for Japan to steadily carry out the plan for MOX fuel utilization in light water reactors, and the electric utilities are expected to do so.
-------------
Reprocessing of Spent Fuel from Light Water Reactors (Part II, Section 3-4)
Spent fuel from light water reactors in Japan, with the exception of a portion contracted out to the Tokai Reprocessing Facility of the Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute, has been reprocessed by overseas contractors. Meanwhile, taking into account various relevant factors, specifically the demand for domestic reprocessing, private Japanese nuclear operators conceived the Rokkasho-mura Spent Fuel Reprocessing Plant based on the operational experience accumulated at the Tokai Reprocessing Facility, and on technologies and experience in countries advanced in the reprocessing field. The parties are now pushing forward with construction of the plant in order to have it in commercial operation by 2005.
