Reactor & Fuel Cycle Impacts
Seven months after the reactor accidents at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan, the political outlook and public sentiment towards nuclear power in Japan are still volatile, and this dynamism makes it difficult to draw a definitive picture of what Japan's energy future, let alone the future of nuclear power in Japan, will be. However, UxC has been closely monitoring and investigating the developments concerning Japan's nuclear energy program since the earthquake and tsunami struck the northeastern part of the country on March 11, 2011, and the results of this in-depth analysis is presented in UxC, LLC (UxC) latest special report.
Japan's Nuclear Energy Program after Fukushima: Japan's Post-Fukushima Impacts on the Global Nuclear Reactor and Fuel Markets presents UxC's detailed research and analysis of the near-term impacts of the accident on Japan's reactor and fuel cycle programs as well as UxC's expert view of the long-term future outlook for Japan. The primary goals of this report are to provide an overview of the most relevant developments that have occurred in Japan following the Fukushima accident and to analyze the impact of the policy measures implemented by the Japanese government over the last seven months as well as the potential implications and viability of a nuclear power phase-out program, as recently announced by Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda. In addition, this study analyzes the actual and potential impacts of Japan's post-Fukushima nuclear power policies on the country's nuclear fuel cycle program, and, as an extension, the impacts that these changes will likely have on the global nuclear fuel markets.
This report relies especially on the expertise of Jonathan Hinze, Vice President, International Operations, who has been supported by a capable team of UxC research and analytical staff. Jonathan worked for over five years directly in the Japanese nuclear industry prior to joining UxC in 2006. During his time working for the Federation of Electric Power Companies (FEPC) as well as a consultant to many Japanese clients, including government agencies (METI, NISA, JNES) and leading companies (utilities, NSSS vendors, fuel suppliers), Jonathan gained many insights into the entire Japanese nuclear energy program. Given his Japanese language capabilities, Jonathan was also part of a team of U.S. experts supporting TEPCO in a major project to improve safety culture and nuclear team communications. This project led him to spend three months on the ground at TEPCO's headquarters and the Fukushima Daiichi and Daini nuclear power plants. This report therefore benefits from Jonathan's unique perspectives on Japan.
What is Included in this Report?
The contents of this special report have been extracted from two recent lengthy updates published as part of UxC's Policy Watch subscription service, although additional detailed information and updates are also provided here that have not been sent to our Policy Watch clients. UxC's new special report on Japan addresses a wide range of relevant topics:
- Japan's Nuclear Program before Fukushima: Description of Japan's nuclear power program, regulatory framework, and nuclear fuel cycle program before Fukushima.
- Developments since March 11, 2011: Review of all relevant events, involving Japanese government agencies and utilities (with a particular focus on TEPCO), since the accident at Fukushima Daiichi in terms of politics, policy, and economics.
- Implications for Japan's Nuclear Power and Fuel Cycle Programs: Full analysis of the impacts of recent developments on Japan's nuclear reactor program and its nuclear fuel cycle programs in the short- and long-term.
- Implications for the Nuclear Fuel Market: Examination of the impact of Japan's nuclear power setback on nuclear fuel demand and supply.
- Nuclear Fuel Inventories Analysis: A detailed review of the excess nuclear fuel inventories of Japanese utilities, which might be made available for sale on the global markets.
- Implication for Japanese Companies: Analysis of the impact of Japan's reductions in the use of nuclear power on utilities and other companies in Japan, as well as the involvement of these companies in international projects associated with the nuclear fuel cycle.
Why Purchase this Report?
Following the situation in Japan and thereby understanding the future direction of nuclear power in the energy mix of this advanced Asian country is crucial not only because Japan is currently the third nation in the world in terms of nuclear power capacity, but also because the entire nation is under the scrutiny of the international community and its decisions have the potential to influence the policies of other governments and thereby the future of the nuclear power industry as a whole. Moreover, the potential implications of Japan's nuclear power setback on the nuclear fuel markets are significant; therefore, exploring the possible future fuel cycle scenarios is crucial to understand these impacts.
For a more detailed impact on the nuclear industry following the Fukushima accident, please see our in-depth study entitled Nuclear Power in the Post-Fukushima Era.
