France/Japan - nuclear fuel protest

Armed vessel reaches Japan under heavy guard

Article published on the 2009-05-18 Latest update 2009-05-18 12:28 TU

The Pacific Heron being loaded in Cherbourg, 5 March 2009.
(Photo : AFP)

An armed cargo ship carrying recycled nuclear fuel from France reached Japan on Monday. Environmental group Greenpeace says the ship's load of plutonium would be enough to make 225 nuclear weapons. A small group of local residents and anti-nuclear activists protested at the ship's arrival.

"Using the mixed oxide, MOX fuel at the nuclear plant here is suicidal," said local activist Yoshika Shiratori in Omoaezaki fishing port on Japan's Pacific coast.

"Once a big earthquake hits, there is no doubt this entire bay, the Pacific Ocean  and all the seas around Japan would become contaminated," he told the AFP news agency.

A major quake just two years ago caused a small radiation leak and a fire, at the world's biggest nuclear plant, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, north-west of the capital, Tokyo.

Japan relies on nuclear power for nearly one-third of its domestic electricity needs. The ship is to continue its journey under guard from the port in central Sizuoka prefecture to two other harbours near nuclear plants in south-western Japan.

MOX fuel is a blend of plutonium and reprocessed uranium. It was recycled by French nuclear firm Areva. Japan has its own nuclear fuel reprocessing plant in the north of the country, but has not yet opened due to objections from the local community.

Japan received a shipment of MOX eight years ago, but none of it has been used because of a data cover-up scandal.

The shipment from France took two months to arrive and a British police team was on board to head off possible hijackers.