The Agency of Natural Resources and Energy approved Thursday the use of plutonium-uranium mixed-oxide fuel at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s No. 3 nuclear reactor at the No. 1 Fukushima plant in Okuma, Fukushima Prefecture.
Tepco officials said that while the firm has not decided when to ship in the MOX fuel, it would like the project to proceed with the understanding of local residents.
The MOX fuel is to be used in the company's so-called pluthermal nuclear power program. The agency on Thursday approved the use of 32 MOX fuel rods.