Nuclear Energy Handbook
Fugen Nuclear Power Station (Decommissioning)
external URL: http://www.jaea.go.jp/04/fugen/jhaishi_e/index.html
| On March 20 1978, Fugen Nuclear Power Station attained the first criticality loading 22 Mixed Oxide (MOX) fuel assemblies. This was the first achievement of the prototype Advanced Thermal Reactor (ATR), which was constructed colligating Japan's technology under a national project to ensure the energy security in Japan. After the first criticality, Fugen has been operating safely and successfully loading 772 MOX fuel assemblies in its 25 years of experience, demonstrating the technical feasibility of ATR as the first Japanese-made nuclear power plant by completing the nuclear fuel cycle. The national project was based on the policy of peaceful utilization of nuclear power and plutonium recycling by Japan's self-development, which was initially born in the concept of utilizing natural uranium. Afterwards, Fugen shifted its role in the plutonium utilization strategy according to the energy circumstances utilizing ATR's excellent core flexibility. However, the advancement of the plutonium utilization in LWRs made it clear that LWRs could substitute for ATR in the utilization of plutonium. Consequently, it called for the abandonment of ATR demonstration plant construction. The ATR project will be suspended in the end of September 2003. Prior to that suspension, Fugen Nuclear Power Station terminated its operation on March 29, 2003. |
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| URL: | http://www.jaea.go.jp/04/fugen/jhaishi_e/index.html
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| language: | Japanese
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| originator: | operator of nuclear plant or facility
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| country: | Japan
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| access: | open to the general public
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| type of data: | textual information
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| type of site: | non-commercial site
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| subject category: | nuclear facilities
| nuclear power plant web sites
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| INIS/ETDE category: | specific nuclear reactors and associated plants
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| keywords: | power reactors
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