Japan Atomic Energy Agency facts for kids
The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) is a special organization in Japan that focuses on atomic energy. It was created by combining two older groups: the JNC and the JAERI. JAEA even got the nickname "Genken" from JAERI, which means "nuclear research" in Japanese.
On April 10, 2007, JAEA joined an international group called the GNEP alliance. This group works together on nuclear energy projects. Other members included Areva, Washington Group International, and BWX. JAEA's experience with a special plant in Rokkasho was very helpful to this group.
On April 1, 2016, JAEA moved some of its research labs to the National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS). NIRS then changed its name to the National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST). This new group includes the labs from NIRS and JAEA.
In 2018, JAEA estimated it would need about 1.9 trillion yen (which is about $17.1 billion) to safely take apart 79 of its facilities. This process is called decommissioning and is expected to take about 70 years.
Contents
What is JAEA?
- When it started: October 2005
- How it was created: By the Japan Atomic Energy Agency Law (日本原子力研究開発機構法)
- Main Office: Tokai-mura
- Number of Staff: 4386 people (as of October 2005)
- Leader: 岡﨑俊雄 (started in January 2007)
Where JAEA Works
JAEA has many important locations and facilities across Japan. Here are some of them:
Tokai-mura Facilities
JAEA has several facilities in Tōkai, Ibaraki Prefecture. This area was the first place in Japan to focus on nuclear research. JAEA has now grown to include other sites in Ibaraki and all over Japan.
- Tokai R&D Center (東海研究開発センター): This center has two main parts:
- Nuclear Science Research Institute (原子力科学研究所)
- Nuclear Fuel Cycle Engineering Laboratories (核燃料サイクル工学研究所)
- The Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (大強度陽子加速器計画 or J-PARC): This is a large facility that has many machines for studying tiny particles.
Tsuruga Facilities
JAEA also has a main base in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture. This location is a center for studying fast breeder reactors and for other research and development (R&D) work.
Oarai R&D Center
This center is located in Ōarai, Ibaraki Prefecture. It is close to Tokai-mura but is a separate site. It is home to several important reactors:
- The Jōyō reactor
- The Japan Materials Testing Reactor
- The new High-temperature engineering test reactor
- An environmental monitoring center
- A children's museum
Ningyo-toge Environmental Engineering Center
This is a smaller facility located in Kamisaibara, Okayama Prefecture. It works with processing uranium and has a small plant that shows how uranium can be enriched. This center focuses on the early steps of the nuclear fuel cycle.
Aomori R&D Center
The Aomori Research and Development Center is spread across Rokkasho and Mutsu, both in Aomori Prefecture.
- The Rokkasho site focuses on fusion research. This includes designing fusion reactors, using particle accelerators, and testing materials.
- The facilities in Mutsu include a museum, a center for watching the ocean, and a place for managing radioactive waste.
JAEA also works with and supports Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited with their plans for reprocessing nuclear fuel and enriching uranium.
Horonobe Underground Research Center
The Horonobe URL does research and development on geology. It also studies how to safely store high-level radioactive waste deep underground. This site is planned to become Japan's national Deep geological repository for nuclear waste.
- Fugen
Tono Geoscience Center
This center is located in Tōnō, Gifu Prefecture.
More to Explore
- 2011 Japanese nuclear accidents
- Fukushima I nuclear accidents
- Independent Administrative Institution
- Japanese nuclear incidents
- Japanese reaction to Fukushima I nuclear accidents
- List of Independent Administrative Institutions (Japan)
- Nuclear power in Japan
