On January 27, Japan’s Recyclable-Fuel Storage Company (RFS) announced that it would push back the scheduled start of operation of the Recyclable Fuel Storage Center (RFC) — an interim storage facility — under construction in Mutsu City, Aomori Prefecture, from March 2015 to October 2016. It reported the matter to the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) on January 30.
RFS explained the reason for the delay, saying that the facility is undergoing an examination by the NRA for compatibility with new regulatory standards.
The compatibility examination itself will take until this autumn, given the need to respond on matters that will be pointed out, as well as full-scale examinations regarding earthquakes and tsunamis. In addition, measures will be required against flying objects during tornadoes.
The facility will store spent nuclear fuel from the Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) and the Japan Atomic Power Company (JAPC) for up to 50 years, until the fuel is reprocessed.
