Japan Nuclear Fuel Ltd, operator of the Rokkasho reprocessing plant, announced that the opening of the facility is delayed again, this time for about three years. Japan Nuclear Fuel does not expect operations of the plant to begin earlier than the first half of 2021 fiscal year. This is the 23rd delay in the history of the plant, which was supposed to begin operations in 1997. Previous delay was announced in October 2017.

According to Platts Nuclear News, the reprocessing facility and the MOX fabrication plant are expected to begin operations in September 2021 and September 2022 respectively.