It was reported in 29 June Fukui Newspaper that 8 MOX fuel assemblies with falsified quality control data could leave Takahama, Fukui Prefecture as early as 4 July 2002. However, there are suspicions about corrosion of the transport cask and corrosion of the steel plate tank tops of the transport vessel.

An investigation by Tokyo Electric and Kansai Electric showed that metal corrosion led to the rising of the heat radiation fins on TN model transport casks currently stored in France. On 27 June, Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport issued an official notification instructing the companies to refrain use the TN model transport casks until a corrosion inspection has been carried out to guarantee safety of the casks.

The transport cask to be used in the imminent return shipment is an excellox model cask. Kansai Electric claims that “the structure is different therefore there is no corrosion.” However, Green Action and Mihama-no-Kai met with Kansai Electric officials at the companies headquarters in Osaka on 1 July 2002, and confirmed that the Excellox casks were also exposed to water when they were used as spent nuclear fuel transport casks. In order to use the casks as MOX fuel transport casks, the company carried out a series of modifications including installing a layer of resin around the body of the cask and an outer metal layer to cover the resin. Prior to these installations six years ago, the company carried out a visual inspection of the cask to check for corrosion. However, since the modifications have been completed no inspections for corrosion have taken place.

Green Action and Mihama-no-Kai submitted a list of demands to MLIT Minister Chikage Ogi on 2 July, calling for MLIT to act on the ministry’s own official notification of 27 July, and instruct Kansai Electric not to use the Excellox cask to return MOX fuel until an inspection for corrosion has been carried out by the company. This evening, Green Action and Mihama-no-Kai will attend a meeting with MLIT officials organized by Japanese Diet members. We will continue to keep you posted about details concerning the transport cask issue and other issues concerning this return shipment of MOX fuel.

With regards to corrosion of the transport vessels, on 27 June 2002, UK Parliamentarian David Chaytor sent a letter to British Secretary of State for Transport which points out that initial results of tests on vessels owned and operated by Pacific Nuclear Transport Ltd (PNTL) indicate the possibility of serious corrosion problems affecting all ships within the PNTL fleet. We have enclosed a copy of the letter for your convenience.

If you have any questions please contact Aileen Mioko Smith at 090-3620-9251.

Encl.

1) Nuclear Fuel June 24, 2002 “Fukushima, Intervenors Query Integrity of Cask On Eve of MOX Transport to UK

2) David Chaytor, Member of Parliament, Bury North, 27 June 2002 letter to Rt. Hon. Alistair Darling MP, Secretary of State for Transport

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