Following the first one, the second annual symposium in this series was held on
November 28, 2013, dealing with nuclear back-end issues and the role of nuclear
transmutation technology after the accident at TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi NPP.
The accident has called upon us to focus our attention on the large amount of spent
nuclear fuels stored in NPPs as well as on the impacts of the accident. In fact, public
anxiety regarding the treatment and disposal of high-level radioactive wastes which
require long-term control is now growing, while the government policy on the
back-end of the nuclear fuel cycle is unpredictable in the aftermath of the accident.
The issues are not simply technical, they are critically important not only for
dealing with the accident but also for pursuing nuclear energy production in the
world.
This publication summarizes the current status of the back-end issues and of
research and development on nuclear transmutation technology for radioactive
waste management. It is expected to contribute to better understanding and further
discussion of the issues.
On behalf of KURRI, I wish to thank all the contributors to this book as well as
the reviewers. KURRI hopes that this publication will promote further progress in
nuclear safety research and will contribute to the reduction of public anxiety after
the accident.
Kyoto University Research Reactor Institute
Kyoto, Japan
Hirotake Moriyama
vi
Foreword
November 28, 2013, dealing with nuclear back-end issues and the role of nuclear
transmutation technology after the accident at TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi NPP.
The accident has called upon us to focus our attention on the large amount of spent
nuclear fuels stored in NPPs as well as on the impacts of the accident. In fact, public
anxiety regarding the treatment and disposal of high-level radioactive wastes which
require long-term control is now growing, while the government policy on the
back-end of the nuclear fuel cycle is unpredictable in the aftermath of the accident.
The issues are not simply technical, they are critically important not only for
dealing with the accident but also for pursuing nuclear energy production in the
world.
This publication summarizes the current status of the back-end issues and of
research and development on nuclear transmutation technology for radioactive
waste management. It is expected to contribute to better understanding and further
discussion of the issues.
On behalf of KURRI, I wish to thank all the contributors to this book as well as
the reviewers. KURRI hopes that this publication will promote further progress in
nuclear safety research and will contribute to the reduction of public anxiety after
the accident.
Kyoto University Research Reactor Institute
Kyoto, Japan
Hirotake Moriyama
vi
Foreword