Members of the Atomic Energy Commission on Tuesday voiced mixed views over a high court ruling the previous day that nullified the government's approval in 1983 of the Monju fast-breeder reactor in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture.
The Monju reactor, a government-designed prototype, was expected to play a key role in a national policy of using recycled plutonium at fast-breeder reactors.
The 280,000-kilowatt reactor began supplying power in August 1995. It was shut down, however, following a massive sodium coolant leak in December the same year.