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Potential & Obstacles (2): Radioactive Waste

Published on June 14, 2019: The Denki Shimbun (The Electric Daily News)
Shojiro Matsuura
Advisor

At the 52nd JAIF Annual Conference in April right before the Japanese era changed to Reiwa, intellectuals and experts from Japan and other countries attested with great expectation to the variety of possibilities available for nuclear power during panel discussions and speeches epitomizing the keynote theme of “Tapping the Full Potential of Nuclear Energy.”

However, a look at the reality in which Japan’s nuclear industry operates and research and development activities that are conducted reveals three very high and thick walls that we must surmount to fully bring out this potential in the direction sought. These are radiation hazards, the disposal of high-level waste, and cognitive dissonance about nuclear power use. In my April 26 commentary, I pointed out challenges that we face in vaulting the radiation hazard wall. Here, I would like to take up the topic of high-level waste (HLW).

Ever since 1970 when nuclear power began to be used for civilian purposes, there has been a continuous onslaught of criticism and denunciation by those critical of such use, even deriding “nuclear power generation as akin to a home with no toilets.” Ever since Japan resolutely made the choice to research, develop and exploit nuclear power, our basic policy has been to utilize the nuclear fuel cycle. Considering the progressive qualities of nuclear science and technology, this policy has been judged to be reasonable and appropriate today as well as over the ultra-long-term. In accordance with this policy, the disposal of HLW emitted from nuclear fuel cycle operations is integral and inevitable as progress is made in the use of nuclear power. Since the earliest stages, continuous, steady and intensive efforts have naturally been made to effectuate such disposal. Substantial scientific and engineering progress has been achieved for implementing disposal. These accomplishments have risen to the stage where a pilot project is feasible, yet we have not implemented one. The reason is patently obvious. No decision has been able to be made on the location for such a trial. If such a program cannot be conducted in Japan, then the nation will inevitably be forced to forgo the use of nuclear energy. Whatever the case, considering that Japan currently produces 4% of its energy domestically, we must resign ourselves to the fact that Japan will never be energy independent.

This is not to say that there are no HLW disposal possible locations in Japan. A map, which the Japanese government released indicates scientific features for selection of a final disposal site, shows that zones within 20 km of the coastline around most of the archipelago are suitable. If decisions can be reached on even a few of these, then the problem will be solved.

One thing that struck me about this map displaying scientific features is that all nuclear power plants and large nuclear research and development facilities are located within such suitable zones. Also, these are the only facilities that produce the highly radioactive material forming the core of the HLW. The reliability of geological structures near these facility sites has been researched and analyzed more meticulously and precisely than any other location since even before the facilities were set up. The people who work at these sites know this fact very well and also understand that the safety of disposed HLW is phenomenally higher than the safety of facility operations.

Even though HLW disposal is an essential part of Japan’s nuclear policy, the discussion comprises political, social, economic and cultural issues that cannot possibly be addressed using only scientific and technical logic. Even if a local community indicates that it may be agreeable to locating a site within its municipality, one only needs to recall the chaos that engulfed Toyo town in Kochi Prefecture for an intense reminder of the difficulties faced in ultimately realizing final disposal. HLW does not necessarily need to be disposed of tomorrow. However, if left unaddressed, Japan’s nuclear policy will crumble faster than we may imagine. Society’s confidence is unattainable if the discussion to determine a disposal site is initiated either too early or too late. It is time for us to have a thorough dialogue about radioactive waste. Moreover, I believe that all national and regional elections should be an opportunity for candidates to present to each other the outcome of these discussions and come to a decision.

End