Tokyo, London ready to agree on return of MOX fuel to Britain

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@earthlink.net>]

Tokyo, London ready to agree on return of MOX fuel to Britain

TOKYO, July 7 (Kyodo) - Japan and Britain could agree as early as 
next week on the return to Britain of tainted plutonium fuel 
manufactured by British Nuclear Fuels PLC (BNFL), Japanese officials 
said Friday. 

''We are close to agreement with the British government on the return 
of the fuel'' to Britain, International Trade and Industry Minister 
Takeo Hiranuma told reporters. 

The Natural Resources and Energy Agency said it is trying to schedule 
a meeting between its representatives and senior officials of 
Britain's Department of Trade and Industry to hold final talks on the 
matter. 

The meeting could take place at the agency's offices and an agreement 
could be reached as early as next week, agency officials said. 

BNFL and Kansai Electric Power Co., which operates the Takahama 
nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture where the BNFL-produced mixed 
uranium-plutonium oxide (MOX) fuel was supposed to be used, are also 
discussing ways to resolve compensation and other issues involving 
the scandal. 

Last September, it came to light that quality-assurance data on a 
consignment of MOX fuel intended for use in the Takahama No. 3 
reactor had been falsified by workers at BNFL's Sellafield plant in 
Cumbria, northwest England. 

The fuel was waiting to be shipped to Japan at the time of the 
disclosure. 

In December, there was more embarrassment for BNFL when it was 
revealed that data on a consignment already in Takahama -- to be used 
for the No. 4 reactor -- had also been falsified. The shipment was 
delivered from Britain in September. 

Furthermore in February this year, BNFL announced that a screw and a 
concrete block had been mixed into two MOX fuel rods waiting for 
shipment to the Takahama reactor. 

The incidents have caused a major delay to the start of Kansai 
Electric Power's MOX fuel project, which was initially slated for 
late last year. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sandy Perle					Tel:(714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100   				    	
Director, Technical				Extension 2306 				     	
ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Division		Fax:(714) 668-3149 	                   		    
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