Japan nuclear plant reports leak, no outside effect

TOKYO, Apr 12 (Reuters) Radioactive water leaked inside a new Japanese nuclear reprocessing plant but no one was injured and the leak had no effects outside the plant, a spokesman for the plant's operator, Japan Nuclear Fuel Ltd, said today.

About 40 litres of water containing plutonium and uranium leaked inside a concrete-lined cell at the plant for reprocessing spent nuclear fuels in Rokkasho, northern Japan, yesterday while an employee was conducting a remote-controlled operation, the spokesman said.

He added that radioactivity monitors showed there had been no effects outside the cell.

The plant began trial operations on March 31, and the accident was the first at the facility, Kyodo news agency said.

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