Nuclear Fuel Storage Approved for Yamaguchi Provincial Town by Chugoku Electric

In the picturesque town of Kaminoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, a proposal for an interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel has been put forth by Chugoku Electric Power Co. This facility, intended to temporarily store spent fuel from nuclear power plants, has been under consideration since August 2023.

Chugoku Electric has conducted a feasibility study at the proposed construction site, and the results have shown no problems with setting up the storage facility. The on-site survey, including a drilling survey, has been carefully examined by the company.

The meeting between Chugoku Electric's Managing Executive Officer, Satoshi Osedo, and Tetsuo Nishi, the mayor of Kaminoseki, took place at the Kaminoseki municipal office. Mr. Osedo presented the results of the feasibility study to Mr. Nishi, outlining the promising prospects of the proposed facility.

However, the decision on whether Kaminoseki will accept the construction of the interim storage facility is yet to be made. The town assembly and citizens will play a crucial role in this judgement.

A recent development in the project's history is the joint development proposal with Kansai Electric Power Co. Chugoku Electric is considering building the spent nuclear fuel storage facility jointly with its counterpart. The decision to build the interim storage facility in Kaminoseki is still contingent upon the joint development with Kansai Electric Power Co.

As of 2025, the mayor of Kaminoseki has decided to reject the construction of an interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel. The proposed facility in Kaminoseki remains pending a final decision, with the town assembly and citizens' judgement being a key factor.

The drilling survey for the proposed interim storage facility in Kaminoseki was completed in November 2024. The on-site survey results are being used to confirm the feasibility of the proposed facility in Kaminoseki.

As the story unfolds, the future of the proposed interim storage facility in Kaminoseki remains uncertain, awaiting the town assembly and citizens' decision.