Tokyo, May 06: Japan plans to restart today its controversial fast-breeder nuclear reactor after operations were suspended for more than 14 years following a sodium leak and a fire.
The Japan Atomic Energy Agency is scheduled to relaunch Monju, the nation’s only fast-breeder reactor, around 10:30 am (local time).
The facility was shut down in 1995, less than two years after Monju had started generating power, after a special thermometer broke, leaking high-temperature metallic sodium that reacted violently with oxygen.
The incident resulted in a fire, but caused no radiation leak.
The public grew fearful of the programme and angry at the operator, who tried to cover up key data from the incident.
The agency released altered video footage of the fire in a failed attempt to ease public concern about the safety of the facility, located in Tsuruga, Fukui prefecture, 350 kilometres west of Tokyo.
–IANS