Recycled nuclear fuel arrives in Kyushu for MOX power generation

SAGA, Japan, May 23 Kyodo -
(EDS: ADDING QUOTES, COMMENTS IN 3RD-5TH GRAFS)
Recycled nuclear fuel carried from France by a cargo ship arrived Saturday at
the Genkai nuclear power plant in Saga Prefecture for the start in November of
Japan's first nuclear power generation using plutonium-uranium mixed oxide, or
MOX fuel.
Kyushu Electric Power Co. plans to start MOX fuel power generation at the No. 3
reactor of the plant.
A group of residents gathered near that plant out of concerns over safety to
protest at the arrival of the fuel on the Pacific Heron transport vessel, while
Kyushu Electric Power said in a statement that the local utility will
prioritize safety measures in proceeding with its pluthermal activities.
Later in the day, the ship left the Genkai plant for Shikoku Electric Power
Co.'s Ikata plant in Ehime Prefecture.
Earlier, the MOX fuel from France had been taken Monday to Chubu Electric Power
Co.'s Hamaoka nuclear power plant in Shizuoka Prefecture. Chubu Electric and
Shikoku Electric are expected to begin pluthermal power generation next year.
The fuel was manufactured in France for the three utility firms, which also
placed an order for it with Britain.
It is the third time Japan has transported MOX fuel from Europe, following
shipments in 1999 and 2001.
The previous shipments for Tokyo Electric Power Co. and Kansai Electric Power
Co. were unused due partly to the falsification of data related to the
transportation of the fuel.
Japan's electric power industry plans to start pluthermal power generation at
16 to 18 nuclear power plants by fiscal 2010 ending March 2011.
==Kyodo