Nuclear power plant Spent nuclear fuel

High levelradioactive

waste

PlutoniumFast breeder reactor

plutonium

Reprocessing

Uranium

Nuclear power plant Spent nuclear fuel

High levelradioactive

waste

PlutoniumFast breeder reactor

plutonium

? ４５ tonnes

Final Disposal X

Uranium

Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant８ tonnes/year

Reprocessing

Nuclear power plant Spent nuclear fuel

High levelradioactive

waste

PlutoniumFast breeder reactor

plutonium

? ４５ tonnes

９

１

Mix Oxide fuel (MOX)

Final Disposal X

Reprocessing

Uranium

Plutonium is recovered through spentfuel reprocessing and mixed with uranium for use in a thermal reactor.

Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant８ tonnes/year

Uranium Nuclear power plant Spent nuclear fuel

High levelradioactive

waste

PlutoniumFast breeder reactor

plutonium

?Final Disposal X

Reprocessing

• Regional Monopoly

• Power generation and Power grid

• Pricing

TEPCO

DPJ LDP

Media

Scholars

METI** Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

Union Vote $

Graduate Employment

$

Advertising and

Sponsorship

Amakudari‘Descent fromheaven’ – civil servants entering the private sector following retirement

Regional Monopoly

Grid

Gas

SolarWind

Nuclear

Grid

Power Generation

The Structure of Power Companies

Pricing

Profit (3%)

Cost

• Overhead• Maintenance• Construction• Wages

MarketPricing

• Feed in Tariff

• Independent Grid

• Market Mechanism

• Local Government Initiative

• Natural Energy Foundation (Mega Solar)

Issues for the Future

Akita Prefecture

$1b/year

Electricity (nuclear)

Akita Prefecture

Local bank

Wind and Solar power

Renewable (Local)

Consumer“Akita komachi” rice

$800m/year

“Akita komachi” rice

$800m/year

Outside Akita Prefecture