Nine major power utilities and Japan Atomic Power Company said they have selected the village of Rokkasho in Aomori prefecture as the site of a planned factory to manufacture MOX fuel.

The 10 parties said they want to arrange for the MOX fuel plant to start operations in 2008 or 2009. The plant will have an annual output capacity of 130t.

In Rokkasho, Japan Nuclear Fuel Service is now building a nuclear fuel reprocessing plant. The plant is expected to commence full operations in July 2005.