EM Highlights Potential Used Nuclear Fuel Collaborations at U.S.-Japan Meeting

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management (EM) presented at the recent 13th U.S.-Japan Technical Meeting of the Civil Nuclear Energy Research and Development Working Group held in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Participants included, from left, officials from the Japan Atomic Energy Agency; Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; EM; and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

SANTA FE, N.M. — The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) participated in the 13th U.S.-Japan Technical Meeting of the Civil Nuclear Energy Research and Development Working Group, where officials discussed continued cooperation on used nuclear fuel management and advanced fuel cycle technologies.

Hosted by Los Alamos National Laboratory, the meeting brought together representatives from DOE and several Japanese government organizations, including the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; and the Japan Atomic Energy Agency.

The U.S.-Japan partnership reflects a strong foundation for future innovation and continued discussions on advanced conditioning of used nuclear fuel. The working group was created to enhance coordination of joint civil nuclear research and development efforts between the two countries.

During the recent meeting, EM presented its evolving vision for a future recycling and conditioning capability focused on unlocking the full value within used nuclear fuel. A presentation highlighted opportunities for continued collaboration on the management and advanced conditioning of damaged used nuclear fuel, and highlighted how the U.S.’ extensive history and expertise in managing complex and challenging fuel forms provides a strong technical foundation for future recycling and conditioning capabilities.

EM representatives emphasized that the longstanding history of collaboration between the U.S. and Japan in nuclear energy is deep and robust, underpinned by a shared vision for the safe and secure management of used nuclear fuel and continued international cooperation in advancing future capabilities.

In addition to the technical sessions, the Japanese delegation toured several DOE facilities in Los Alamos, including the Low-Enriched Fuel Fabrication Facility, Los Alamos Neutron Science Center, Fuels Research Laboratory and other research facilities supporting nuclear energy missions.