France sends newest nuclear cargo to Japan

Two ships carrying reprocessed nuclear gasoline destined for Japan set sail Saturday morning from northern France, an AFP photographer mentioned, regardless of criticism from environmental campaigners.

The gasoline was because of depart the northern French port metropolis of Cherbourg earlier this month however was delayed by the breakdown of loading gear.

Environmental activists have denounced the observe of transporting such extremely radioactive materials, calling it irresponsible.

The earlier transport of MOX gasoline to Japan in September 2021 drew protests from environmental group Greenpeace.

MOX gasoline is a combination of reprocessed plutonium and uranium.

“The Pacific Heron and Pacific Egret, the specialised ships belonging to British company PNTL, left Cherbourg harbour on September 17. They will ensure the shipment of MOX nuclear fuel to Japan,” French nuclear expertise group Orano mentioned in an announcement Saturday.

They are certain for Japan to be used in an influence plant and Orano mentioned it anticipated the cargo to reach in November.

Japan lacks services to course of waste from its personal nuclear reactors and sends most of it abroad, significantly to France.

The operation was carried out “successfully”, Orano mentioned, and it’s the second cargo that arrived in Cherbourg from a plant in La Hague, positioned 20 kilometres (12 miles) away, after the primary got here on September 7.

Yannick Rousselet of Greenpeace France beforehand denounced the cargo.

“Transporting such dangerous materials from a nuclear proliferation point of view is completely irresponsible,” he mentioned final month.

MOX consists of 92 p.c uranium oxide and eight p.c plutonium oxide, in accordance with Orano.

The plutonium “is not the same as that used by the military,” it mentioned.

© 2022 AFP