SYMPOSIUM: Japan’s massive stockpile of plutonium casts shadow over nonproliferation efforts

[bananas]

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201401050011

SYMPOSIUM: Japan’s massive stockpile of plutonium casts shadow over nonproliferation efforts

January 05, 2014

THE ASAHI SHIMBUN

Nuclear policy experts from around the world discussed a broad array of issues concerning the use of plutonium in nuclear power generation at a recent symposium in Tokyo.

The symposium, titled “Managing Spent Fuel: To Reprocess or Store,” was jointly sponsored by The Asahi Shimbun Co. and Princeton University. Discussions revolved around the wisdom of Japan’s energy policy of utilizing plutonium for power generation under the government’s nuclear fuel recycling program.

The symposium was comprised of three sections. The experts first addressed the implications of Japan’s policy of reprocessing all spent nuclear fuel for international efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation. Next, the main topic was the economics and safety of reprocessing spent nuclear fuel. In the final section, the participants debated how to overcome obstacles to a policy change.

NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES SUSPECT JAPAN HAS HIDDEN PLUTONIUM AGENDA

Japan’s massive stockpile of plutonium and what should be done with it was the topic of discussion for the first section of the symposium. Steve Fetter, a former U.S. White House official during the Obama administration, pointed out that if the reprocessing plant in Rokkasho, Aomori Prefecture, starts operation, Japan’s stockpile of plutonium will keep growing despite the lack of a plausible plan to use the material.

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[ConcernedCanuk]

1. Heck with Japan - USA wants IRAN - Iran's got oil

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Japan is the world's largest liquefied natural gas importer, second largest coal importer, and third largest net oil importer.

Because Japan's oil resources are very limited, the country relies almost solely on imports to meet its oil consumption needs.

Japan's limited hydrocarbon reserves and its need to secure energy imports are the incentives the government uses to support upstream Japanese companies in their quest to purchase overseas oil and natural gas equity.

Japan, the third largest global net oil importer, is highly dependent on the Middle East for the majority of its supply. It is seeking to diversify its supply sources in Russia, Southeast Asia, and West Africa.

Japan relies on LNG imports for virtually all of its natural gas demand and is the world's largest LNG importer.

Japan consumed about 37% of global LNG in 2012, as the Fukushima disaster spurred greater demand for LNG in the power sector since 2011. A third of the country's LNG imports are from Southeast Asia, but Japan has a diverse portfolio of supply sources.

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http://www.eia.gov/countries/country-data.cfm?fips=JA
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NEVERMIND that Iran doesn't even have enough plutonium for one bomb.

I'm sure that Japan has forgotten all about Hiroshima and Nagasaki,

right?

right . . . . .

CC

[kristopher]

2. ... the double standard that allows only Japan to reprocess spent fuel...

The experts also discussed whether Japan’s fuel reprocessing program is negatively affecting the efforts for nuclear nonproliferation.

Japan is the only country without nuclear arms that continues to reprocess spent nuclear fuel. Countries that are disgruntled about Japan’s privilege--South Korea, for example--are calling on the United States to allow them to do the same.

Fetter asserted that it is difficult to maintain the double standard that allows only Japan to reprocess spent fuel. He expressed concerns that an increase in the number of countries with plutonium would lead to nuclear proliferation and pose a security threat.