According to French media reports, on the 6th, France's nuclear giant Orano announced that two ships transporting mixed oxide (MOX) fuel used for the No. 3 and No. 4 units of the Kansai Electric Power Company's Fukae Nuclear Power Plant (in Fukae Town, Fukuoka Prefecture) left from the port of Cherbourg in northwestern France. They are expected to arrive in Japanese territorial waters in November.

This is the ninth time MOX fuel has been transported from France to Japan since 1999. The last time was in 2022. The MOX fuel to be transported is manufactured by Orano.

The No. 3 unit of the Fukae Nuclear Power Plant is currently operational, but the No. 4 unit is undergoing regular maintenance.

The main reasons why Japan does not produce nuclear fuel on its own include technical limitations, legal constraints, and strategic considerations:

1. Technical Limitations

The nuclear fuel used in Japanese nuclear power plants is plutonium-240 (with a concentration of about 65%), while plutonium-239 (which requires a concentration of over 93%) needed for nuclear weapons is difficult to extract from nuclear plant waste. Additionally, Japan lacks a complete nuclear industry system and is unable to establish related production capabilities due to post-war constitutional restrictions.

2. Legal Constraints

The Japanese government upholds the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles" (not manufacturing, not possessing, not introducing nuclear weapons), and explicitly prohibits nuclear weapon development through laws. Although a 2025 public opinion survey showed that 41% of people support re-evaluating nuclear policy, political decisions remain influenced by conservative forces, and there has been no substantial policy change yet.

3. Strategic Considerations

Japan relies on the U.S. nuclear umbrella for security, theoretically making it unnecessary to develop nuclear weapons. However, with changes in the international security landscape in recent years, some politicians have proposed the concept of a "Plan B," advocating for independence first before considering nuclear weapons, which remains at the theoretical discussion stage.

Original article: www.toutiao.com/article/1842559811642368/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author.