At Japan Nuclear Fuel’s uranium enrichment plant (Rokkasho Village, Aomori Prefecture), 360 parts that the manufacturer had recommended to replace every 10 years at the most had never been overhauled and inspected since the plant was completed in 1991. I found out on the 28th. President Naohiro Masuda made the announcement at a regular press conference, saying, “It was naive to maintain the system for more than 30 years (without overhauling it),” indicating that he plans to reconsider the response.

In July of this year, water containing radioactive materials leaked at the concentration plant. It was discovered that the cause was deterioration of the rubber in the piping valve over time, and that an overhaul had never been performed.

According to Nuclear Fuel, when examining cases that had not been overhauled, they found about 110 valves of the same type, and a total of about 360 when including other parts such as valves. (Kyodo News)