TOKYO -- Japan will scrap its grand nuclear energy plans centering on the accident-prone Monju fast breeder reactor, a decision that will likely force a reassessment of a fuel cycle program that was supposed to provide an infinite source of energy.
Monju, once touted as a "dream reactor" that generates more fuel than it consumes via nuclear chain reaction, has remained shut down due to a series of troubles. Its enormous upkeep costs, reaching 50 million yen ($490,000) a day, have led to criticism of wasting taxpayer money.
The government will re-evaluate Monju's position in the nation's nuclear cycle program under a new energy plan to be adopted as early as this month. It will no longer be at the core of the nation's nuclear policy. As an alternative, the government plans to use Monju to advance research on reducing nuclear waste. Processing waste with a fast reactor is said to accelerate the decay of radioactive material and slash its volume.
