“Arguably, this is the first event to give me so much information about Russian back-end technologies,” Hiroyuki Ida, a water treatment and fluid dynamics expert from JFE Engineering Corporation, told Strana Rosatom. “These issues were often discussed with our American and French colleagues, but we had never learned as much as we did here.”
People at Rosatom understand that the Japanese back-end market might turn into a growth point for its business and offer the entire range of back-end management services. According to Kirill Komarov, Rosatom Deputy CEO for Corporate Development and International Business, Rosatom is prepared to remain Japan’s partner in long-established areas (fuel deliveries) and capture new cooperation opportunities. “It was Japan that helped Russia manage nuclear legacy in the Far East; now we are ready to help Japan solve back-end issues.”
Japan’s sore spot is Fukushima-1 whose decommissioning will need much time and money. “We are sure that our solutions are perfectly applicable for the problems faced by our Japanese colleagues. We are ready to join their recovery effort at Fukushima-1,” said Kirill Komarov. “Rosatom has extensive expertise in dealing with failed nuclear fuel elements. We have carried out similar projects both in Russia and other countries.” As an example, he cited the extraction of broken fuel assemblies at Paks (Hungary).
A huge problem at Fukushima-1 is radioactive water. Rosatom has received a grant from Japan for the development of a pilot treatment plant that will remove tritium from water. “The project goes as planned. Next year the pilot installation will be tested to become a model for an on-site water treatment plant,” explained Komarov.
Recovery effort is not the only program where Rosatom can participate. Nuclear station decommissioning is another area of interest. “This is where we would be glad to offer services of Rosatom Group companies, first of all Nukem Technologies, which has a long track record of successful decommissioning projects and returns to greenfield status,” Kirill Komarov said.
Oleg Kryukov explains, “Emergency response is our strong point. This is not about the Chernobyl disaster alone – we have solid expertise in a variety of reactors and technologies, with competencies in every phase of the nuclear fuel cycle. No other country can boast the same.”
“Spent nuclear fuel disposal remains a major problem at Fukushima,” says Juniti Eguti, Director of the Nuclear Incident Response Center with the Power and Gas Department of the Japanese Agency for Natural Resources and Energy. “Much has been done already to keep the neighboring areas safe, but there is still much to be done, and we are sure we will get through the existing situation.” According to him, the Fukushima accident makes Japan take extremely complicated measures. “I think our technologies are insufficient to solve the task, and we will need assistance of other countries. We are responsible for the post-accident recovery and restoration of trust to the nuclear power industry. We hope sincerely that Russian experts will help us in achieving this goal.”
TENEX CEO Lyudmila Zalimskaya says, “Today Japan is more open to cooperation. This seminar was organized on the initiative of our Japanese colleagues. It was them who started discussing problems that could be solved together. Before the seminar, we made a technical tour to Fukushima-1. In other words, this event is an important step in coordinating joint efforts.” According to Zalimskaya, a government decision is not enough for the full-fledged cooperation to begin, “Businesses should also be willing to join, and we are holding talks with Japanese power companies on this point.”
Give a new push
A solid foundation for the future cooperation was laid by the joint uranium reprocessing and enrichment project, Lyudmila Zalimskaya thinks. Uranium from Japanese nuclear stations is now stored in the UK. “In 2013, we began drafting contract documents. We are now about to finalize them for the project to enter its practical phase,” Zalimskaya says. According to Rosatom, there are no obstacles to the import of reprocessed uranium to Russia. “The necessary legal framework is in place – Russia and Japan signed an agreement on peaceful uses of nuclear power in 2009,” says TENEX CEO. “We are perfectly aware of how important for Japanese companies is the next stage of regenerated uranium reprocessing – reconversion of enriched hexafluoride into dioxide – and plan to start a reconversion facility. This project can give a new push to our partnership.”
Not by MOX alone
Japanese experts paid much interest to REMIX (REgenerated MIXture) fuel developed in Russia and asked many questions about its advantages. The REMIX technology was developed by V. Khlopin Radium Institute to fabricate fuel from non-separated uranium and plutonium mixture left over after the spent nuclear fuel reprocessing. Oleg Kryukov explains, “The entire reactor core can be loaded with REMIX fuel without modifications of its design, but only a third with MOX. REMIX can also be used in thermal reactors.”
Interest of the Japanese is understandable as the nation has imported MOX fuel for more than 800 million US dollars. Four reactors were loaded with this fuel. However, power companies have postponed partial transition to MOX fuel for an indefinite period. The reason behind the decision was an unfinished SNF reprocessing plant in Rokkasho.
Even if the plant is launched, the problem will not be solved in the long run. According to estimates, there will be still much unprocessed fuel left after the plant’s useful life expires. This was why Japanese experts took much interest in the solutions applied in Russia. Particularly many questions were asked about technologies used at Mayak.
Meetings with Japanese nuclear experts are likely to become regular, but it is too early to speak about specific joint projects between the two countries. Whatever the prospects, the fact remains that Japan has now much more interest towards Rosatom’s back-end technologies. Time will show whether the Russian corporation will become a nuclear yokozuna (a sumo wrestler of the highest rank).
Hiroyuki Ida, Senior researcher, JFE Engineering Corporation
– Events like this are very important. Here we can talk directly to Russian experts and ask everything we are interested in. We have now a better picture of Rosatom’s back-end technologies. Historically, we discussed the back end of the nuclear fuel cycle with American and French companies, and we are very much impressed with what Rosatom demonstrated to us. I was particularly interested in the tritium removal facility for Fukushima. Tritium-contaminated water is a major problem on the site, and Rosatom’s proposal has a very high chance of success. Another interesting topic is REMIX fuel, which is absolutely new for us. And, of course, everything related to SNF reprocessing aroused much interest. I hope that cooperation between our countries will continue.
Akira Kondo, ADCO CEO and President
– Today’s presentation was far more informative than those discussed with the French and Americans. My friends from Toshiba can confirm this. There is not enough place at Fukushima-1 site to build a high-level waste management facility. If Rosatom is prepared to reprocess spent nuclear fuel, prospects of our cooperation are clear. We have many reactors that have been in operation for more than 30 years and need decommissioning. I think that Rosatom’s expertise in this field can be useful. We will have to take measures if these reactors are shut down.
Kenji Takeshita, Professor, Tokyo Institute of Technology
– We have always considered nuclear technologies as a three-polar market – Japan, Europe and the US. Now I understand that there is one more pole – Russia. We have talked a lot about spent nuclear fuel and REMIX. This technology is particularly interesting because it reduces the consumption of natural uranium. Rosatom also offers attractive solutions for radioactive waste disposal. We are now sure that Russia has sufficient competencies and technologies. I look forward to new meetings on the same level.
Takuya Hattori, Senior advisor, Japan Atomic Industrial Forum (JAIF)
– Last year I discussed back-end opportunities with my Russian colleagues although our discussion was not so detailed. Previously, my role was to present Russian technologies and solutions in Japan. Now we can discuss everything face to face. I asked my colleagues on the sidelines of the seminar about what they had seen and heard. Everyone was impressed with Rosatom’s competencies. I hope that the seminar has given momentum to our cooperation in the back end of the nuclear fuel cycle.
