Comprehensive cost estimation method for decommissioning

Kudo, Kenji ; Kawatsuma, Shinji; Rindo, Hiroshi; Watabe, Kozo; Tomii, Hiroyuki; Shiraishi, Kunio; Yagi, Naoto ; Fukushima, Tadashi; Zaitsu, Tomohisa

Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI) played a leading role in basic research in the field of atomic energy research and development, while Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute (JNC) did a major role in FBR cycle development and high level waste disposal. Following the Government's decision in December 2001, JAERI and JNC was merged as of October 1st, 2005. The new organization, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), is an institute for comprehensive R&D for atomic energy, and is the largest research and development institute among Governmental R&D organizations. Its missions are basic research on atomic energy, R&D for nuclear fuel cycle, decommissioning of own facilities and disposal of waste, contribution to safety and non-proliferation, etc. The JAEA owns a number of nuclear facilities: research reactors such as JRR-2 and Joyo, prototype reactors such as ATR "Fugen" and FBR "Monju", fuel cycle plants such as Uranium Enrichment Demonstration Plant at Ningyo-Toge, MOX fuel plants at Tokai, Reprocessing Plant at Tokai, and Hot Laboratories such as JRTF and FMF. As a part of preparation of the mergence, JNC and JAERI have jointly developed a comprehensive cost estimation method for decommissioning, based on decommissioning and refurbishing experiences of JAERI and JNC. This method involves more estimation parameters from typical decommissioning activities than before, so as to make it more reliable. JAERI and JNC have estimated the total cost for decommissioning by using this method, and concluded that the cost would be 600 billion yen (approx. 5 billion USD).