The Fukushima Daiichi accident in March 2011 brought into focus the need for Japan to consider nuclear decommissioning at Fukushima Daiichi, other aged nuclear plants and nuclear experimental facilities. Japan is at the beginning of the decommissioning process, and as the mechanics of how this will be organised, it is a good time to enter the market. Knowledge of the UK’s experience and capability in nuclear decommissioning has been growing in Japan, and there is a keenness to learn lessons from the many decommissioning projects which have been completed.

In general, decommissioning in Japan can be classified into three groups:

• Fukushima Dai-ichi
  • Decommissioning and clean-up after the accident
• Japan Atomic Energy Agency research facilities
  • A wide variety of facilities including test reactors
• Aged reactors
  • Generation stations which have reached the end of their operational lives

Entering the decommissioning market in Japan is not a straightforward process, particularly for UK firms familiar with the way the system operates in the UK. If you are interested in the opportunities which may be available for your company in Japan, please contact the Department for International Trade nuclear team in Japan for guidance on how to approach the market.

Additional information regarding the situation at Fukushima Dai-ichi can be found here, and TEPCO themselves provide a list of technical challenges on this site.

A useful guide to the Japanese Nuclear Industry is provided by the Japan Atomic Industry Forum, who also provide regular updates in English regarding the state of the industry in Japan.