Japan Interested in Technologies to Reduce LLW from Nuclear Power Plants

According to a Japanese News Report, Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) will launch full-scale development of technologies to reduce low-level radioactive waste (LLW) generated from nuclear power plants. The Japan Atomic Energy Agency will undertake the actual technology development with the aim of achieving practical application by the end of fiscal 2015. Given that such technologies have been requested by many countries considering introduction of nuclear power generation for the first time, MEXT hopes to expand nuclear exports by proposing to sell such technologies and plant construction as a set.
LLW consists mainly of work clothes and paper towels used during inspection in nuclear power plants. Conventionally, this waste is disposed of after being incinerated or shredded to reduce its volume, mixed with cement or resin and sealed in drums. MEXT claims that there is still a room for further volume reduction in the processes of incinerating and shredding waste and putting it in drums. If it is possible to further reduce waste volume, disposal costs will be reduced because more waste can be put into each drum.
In pursuing the research and development of new technologies, MEXT is considering inviting engineers from countries newly introducing nuclear power to participate in related projects in Japan.