The science and technology ministry has come up with four options on the future of the trouble-prone Monju fast-breeder reactor, including one to pull the plug on the controversial technology in light of the Fukushima nuclear crisis.
The ministry presented the options Wednesday during a meeting of the Japan Atomic Energy Commission, which has been reviewing the national policy of establishing a nuclear fuel reprocessing cycle that would draw heavily on Monju.
For the first time, the panel will officially study the possibility of decommissioning the reactor.