Japan to restart controversial nuclear reactor after 14 years

Japan plans to restart today its controversial fast-breeder nuclear reactor after operations were suspended for more than 14 years following a sodium leak and a fire.

The Japan Atomic Energy Agency is scheduled to relaunch Monju, the nation's only fast-breeder reactor, around 10:30 am (local time).

The facility was shut down in 1995, less than two years after Monju had started generating power, after a special thermometer broke, leaking high-temperature metallic sodium that reacted violently with oxygen.

The incident resulted in a fire, but caused no radiation leak.

The public grew fearful of the programme and angry at the operator, who tried to cover up key data from the incident.

The agency released altered video footage of the fire in a failed attempt to ease public concern about the safety of the facility, located in Tsuruga, Fukui prefecture, 350 kilometres west of Tokyo.

Delays in repairs and strong opposition among some voters have also delayed Monju's resumption.

Fast-breeder reactors have often been billed as "dream reactors" because they make more fuel than they consume, producing plutonium by burning the waste left by the conventional light-water reactors.

Major world economies rushed to develop fast-breeders over the past five decades. But a series of problems, along with fears over the proliferation of plutonium, which can be converted to produce nuclear weapons, have led all Western nations to withdraw from the projects.