Current status of JRR-3

Takeda, Masayasu  

The large earthquake hit JRR-3 on Mar 11, 2011. JRR-3 itself had no serious damage, but we had to repair the utilities which is necessary for safety operation. We finished the repair and confirmation of the safe operation of JRR-3 within two years after the earthquake. But because of the tragic nuclear accident of Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant, the new regulatory requirement was established even for research reactors including JRR-3. We submitted an application document for restarting almost three years ago. But, it has been passed almost 6 years since the earthquake. We are still waiting for the license. The reviewing process now at last moved to the final stage. JAEA officially announced a schedule for restarting of JRR-3 in June last year. In this schedule, the reactor was expected to restart in February, 2018. Unfortunately, the schedule has to be reconsidered based on the delay of reviewing process. The revised schedule will be announced soon.