spent nuclear fuel

Japan's restart of a nuclear reactor has raised concerns about the country's inability to store spent nuclear fuel and lack of plans for radioactive waste disposal. The situation highlights a dire problem for Japan's nuclear program.

Japan has restarted a reactor at the world's largest nuclear plant to address electricity demands amid a global oil crisis, but this highlights the country's shortage of storage space for spent nuclear fuel and lack of a permanent disposal plan. Cooling pools at key plants, including Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, are nearing capacity, and a proposed storage site on Minamitorishima faces skepticism. Recycling efforts for spent fuel have stalled, exacerbating concerns over growing radioactive waste.

Japan has restarted the No. 6 reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station to address electricity demands amid a global oil crisis, but the move highlights Japan's lack of a viable plan for permanent disposal of spent nuclear fuel. Cooling pools at 17 nuclear plants are nearing 80% storage capacity, and a stalled fuel recycling plan exacerbates concerns as reactors risk closure when storage runs out.

A Russian Shahed drone attacked a building near the disused Chornobyl nuclear power plant that stores spent nuclear fuel. Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, described the attack as deliberate and 'extremely vile', though the structure was empty at the time.