ABSTRACT
Neither milling processes (to make yellowcake) nor conversion factories (to uranium hexafluoride) are operated in Japan. However, a commercial factory of uranium enrichment adopting the gas centrifugation process is in operation from 1992. Three domestic companies also work on the fabrication of uranium fuels for supply to the domestic Light Water Reactors (LWR). The secured uranium resources overseas based on commercial contracts are in Namibia, Australia, Canada, UK, South Africa, France, USA, etc., and Japanese firms retain the share of mining interest in Niger, Canada and Australia. The total amount of 249 thousand t-U thus secured is 28 times larger than annual domestic demands of ca. 9 thousand t-U.
