Nuclear Fuel Cycle

Uranium, a fuel for nuclear power generation, is mined in uranium mines, fabricated into fuel assemblies through various processes, and loaded in nuclear reactors. After used for power generation, spent fuels still contain resources, such as uranium that is usable as fuel, or plutonium generated from uranium during generation. These resources can be recovered through reprocessing to be reused as fuel. This flow of mining to reprocessing is called "nuclear fuel cycle". The nuclear fuel cycle for a light water reactor is shown below.

The nuclear fuel cycle for a light water reactor is shown below.

Nuclear Fuel Cycle

Nuclear Fuel Cycle

MHI has contributed in establishing a uranium enrichment technology in Japan by collaboratively working with Japan Nuclear Fuel Ltd.(JNFL) on the centrifuge separation method and plant construction in the JNFL Rokkasho uranium enrichment plant project.

Spent Fuel Reprocessing

The establishment of a spent fuel reprocessing technology will be a key factor in completing the nuclear fuel cycle. MHI participates in national and JNFL projects to construct reprocessing plants.
·MHI has been pressing ahead in the construction of the Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant of Japan Nuclear Fuel Ltd toward the plant operation.
·MHI is developing next-generation reprocessing technology for the fast breeder reactor fuel cycle.

Fuel Transportation/Storage

MHI has been developing safe, reliable and economical Fuel Transportation Casks for the transportation of new/spent fuels and the intermediate storage of spent fuels.

Geological Disposal

MHI is conducting research and development for the safe geological disposal of high-level radioactive wastes(vitrified wastes) separated through spent fuel reprocessing processes.