A cargo of reprocessed nuclear fuel containing highly radioactive plutonium left the French port of Cherbourg for Japan under heavy security on Wednesday as demonstrators protested against the transport.
Phys.org 5th July 2017 read more »
The plutonium MOX fuel shipment that will depart France to the Takahama unit 4 reactor today highlights both the risks and failure of Japan’s nuclear fuel cycle policy, Greenpeace warned today. Plutonium MOX fuel use reduces the safety margins of reactors and increases the severity of a nuclear accident. Currently Japan, has stockpiled over 10 tons of plutonium domestically, with more than 37 tons stored in France and the UK. The shipment to Takahama contains as much as 736kg – as little as 5kg is sufficient for one nuclear weapon.
Greenpeace Japan 5th July 2017 read more »