NUMO initiates an international review of NUMO Safety Case Report

January 23, 2023

In February 2021, NUMO published its “Pre-siting SDM-based Safety Case” (hereafter NUMO SC). In November of the same year, NUMO produced an English version and requested an international peer review by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (hereafter, OECD/NEA) in order to evaluate the maturity and completeness of the generic safety case at the current pre-siting stage, while also confirming the technical feasibility of deep geological disposal in Japan.

On 19 January, 2023, the report that compiled the review results was published by OECD/NEA. The review report can be downloaded from the website of NEA.

Key messages of the review report include;

  • NUMO has demonstrated its capability and maturity in developing a safety case, including the methodologies and tools that will be used for the assessment at specific sites, which is consistent with international practice;
  • Having reviewed the various points necessary for the realisation of geological disposal of radioactive waste, and taking into account the geological context of Japan, the International Review Team considers that elements of its feasibility have been demonstrated.

It also presents recommendations for NUMO to further develop its Safety Case in stages according to progress of the disposal project.

The review report will be used as one of the guidelines for NUMO’s future R&D activities leading towards implementation of the geological disposal project.