Screeners demand review of Monju fast breeder reactor

[kristopher]

Screeners demand review of Monju fast breeder reactor
November 21, 2011

Experts tasked with screening government programs have called for a drastic review of the Monju prototype fast breeder reactor, which remains suspended despite more than 1 trillion yen ($13 billion) spent.

"The government is pouring money on top of 1 trillion yen already spent even though it will not be completed in 40 years," Yuichiro Tamaki, a Lower House member of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan and one of the reviewers, said. "Can we continue this program?"

The policy examiners on Nov. 20 also called on the government to drop 2.2 billion yen of the 21.5 billion yen the science ministry has requested for Monju-related programs in the fiscal 2012 budget.

Monju came under scrutiny on the first day of the Government Revitalization Unit's four-day policy review. The DPJ has conducted three rounds of similar exercises since it came to power in 2009.

Ruling coalition lawmakers...

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/politics/AJ201111210036