fast breeder reactor

The decision would have no impact on Japan's nuclear recycling policy as Tokyo would continue to co-develop a fast-breeder demonstration reactor that has been proposed in France, while research will continue at another experimental fast-breeder reactor, Joyo, which was a predecessor of Monju.

“The situation behind fast-breeder reactor development has drastically changed,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a meeting with cabinet ministers.

Monju is a fast-breeder reactor that uses plutonium reprocessed from spent nuclear fuel originating at conventional nuclear plants.

The Russians opted to use a fast-breeder reactor to do the job while the United States chose to build a new mixed oxide facility – also known as the MOX project – at a site on the Savannah River in South Carolina already managed by the U.S.

Japan already has the Monju fast-breeder reactor for recycling used nuclear fuel instead of building such permanent storage, but the facility has been plagued by fires, shutdowns and other delays.