原子力発電環境整備機構 Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Japan (NUMO)

What 原子力発電環境整備機構 Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Japan (NUMO) does

NUMO (原子力発電環境整備機構, Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Japan) is the Japanese government-designated implementing organization for the geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste and TRU waste, established in 2000 and operating under the Specified Radioactive Waste Final Disposal Act. The organization is responsible for site selection through a statutory three-stage process (literature review, preliminary investigation, and detailed investigation), which relies on voluntary participation by municipalities and is guided by a 2017 Nationwide Map of Scientific Features published with ANRE. As of March 31, 2024, approximately 2,505 vitrified waste canisters are stored in Japan, with 27,000 canisters equivalent of spent fuel produced to date; NUMO's planned repository targets disposal of more than 40,000 vitrified waste overpacks and 19,000 m³ of TRU waste at depths exceeding 300 meters in stable geological formations, with engineered containment designed for 100,000+ years.

NUMO's core technology is a multi-barrier disposal system combining engineered barriers (stainless steel vitrified waste canisters, metal overpacks, clay buffer material) with natural barriers (the surrounding stable host rock at depth). Technical development is overseen by the Technical Advisory Committee, established in 2001 and comprising 21 experts from nine countries. The total program cost is estimated at 4.0 trillion yen per 2020 ANRE reference materials, covering technology development, surveys, land acquisition, design and construction, operation, dismantling and closure, monitoring, and project management.

NUMO operates as a non-commercial governmental entity funded through the Nuclear Reactor Decommissioning and Radioactive Waste Management Fund, with no commercial pricing or revenue model. Its operating model is anchored in extensive public communications and stakeholder engagement — including dialogue-type nationwide briefings conducted jointly with ANRE, the Geo-Labo mobile exhibition vehicle, EESS educational outreach programs, and dedicated digital channels (website, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram). International cooperation is institutionalized through 16 active agreements with counterpart organizations including IAEA, OECD/NEA, ANDRA (France), NAGRA (Switzerland), SKB (Sweden), Posiva (Finland), NWMO (Canada), KORAD (Korea), UK NDA, US DOE, BGE (Germany), and Taiwan Power Company, alongside domestic partners JAEA, JNFL, CRIEPI, and RWMC.

Name

原子力発電環境整備機構 Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Japan (NUMO)

Legal name

Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Japan

Website

https://numo.or.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NUMO is the Japanese government-designated organization responsible for implementing deep geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste, managing site selection, multi-barrier repository technology development, and nationwide public engagement to safely isolate nuclear waste for over 100,000 years.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Radioactive Waste Management

NAICS

Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal (562211)

SIC

Hazardous Waste Management (4955)

akta.pro primary industry

Nuclear Waste Management & Geological Disposal (EUACADAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Repository operations & waste emplacement (handling systems, emplacement, ventilation) (EUAKAGAI), Interim storage facilities & operations (LLW/ILW/HLW storage, vaults, dry storage for waste forms) (EUAKAGAD), Regulatory compliance, licensing & stakeholder engagement for disposal (permits, public consultation, communications) (EUAKAGAK), Performance assessment, safety case & long-term monitoring (modeling, PA/SR, instrumentation) (EUAKAGAJ)

Keywords

• Geological waste disposal
• Nuclear waste management
• Radioactive waste disposal
• Deep geological repository
• High-level waste containment

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Government-funded Operations: NUMO is a Japanese government-established organization funded through the Nuclear Reactor Decommissioning and Radioactive Waste Management Fund. The total cost for final disposal of vitrified waste and TRU waste is estimated at 4.0 trillion yen according to 2020 reference materials from ANRE.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

NUMO is the Japanese government-designated organization responsible for implementing geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste (vitrified waste and TRU waste). It conducts a three-stage site selection process (literature review, preliminary investigation, detailed investigation) and develops the multi-barrier disposal technology combining engineered barriers (stainless steel canisters, overpacks, clay buffer) with natural geological barriers at depths exceeding 300 meters, designed to safely isolate waste for over 100,000 years.

Product overview

NUMO operates as Japan's nuclear waste management organization implementing geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste. The organization offers a unified portfolio of public information services centered around its website, complemented by physical engagement programs including the mobile Geo-Labo exhibition vehicle, educational outreach classes, and nationwide dialogue briefings conducted with government agencies. Technical expertise is provided through its Technical Advisory Committee and published technical reports, all supporting the three-stage site selection process (literature review, preliminary investigation, detailed investigation) mandated by law for selecting a geological disposal facility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Geological Disposal Site Selection Program A three-stage site selection program for identifying geological disposal facilities (literature review, preliminary investigation, detailed investigation) for Japanese municipalities volunteering to host the facility. Designed for the Japanese government, nuclear industry, and participating municipalities.
• Technical Development Program for Geological Disposal Technical development program including technical reports, development plans, and activities of the Technical Advisory Committee for advancing geological disposal technology, safety assessment, and engineering methods. Targeted at nuclear waste management researchers, international partners, and government policymakers.
• Technical Advisory Committee Services Advisory committee comprising 21 domestic and international experts from 9 countries providing technical guidance on site selection strategy and technology programs for geological disposal. Serves as a knowledge and expertise platform for NUMO and the Japanese government.
• Geo-Labo Mobile Exhibition Vehicle (地層処分展示車「ジオ・ラボ号」) Mobile exhibition vehicle that travels around Japan providing hands-on educational experiences about geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste to communities, schools, and local events. Targeted at the general public and educational institutions.
• Dialogue-Type Nationwide Briefings (対話型全国説明会) Nationwide dialogue-style explanatory meetings held jointly with the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy (ANRE) to explain geological disposal mechanisms, site selection process, and research findings to citizens and municipalities. Targets Japanese citizens, municipalities, and local stakeholders.
• Educational Support and Outreach Classes (教育支援・出前授業) Educational support programs and outreach classes (EESS - Educational Support for Earth Science) providing learning opportunities about geological disposal for students and educators. Targeted at Japanese schools, students, and teachers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Total disposal capacity: 40,000+ vitrified waste overpacks and 19,000 m3 of TRU waste
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipation in IAEA activities on geological disposal, information exchange on international best practices and regulatory frameworks for radioactive waste management.
• OECD/NEA (Nuclear Energy Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipation in OECD/NEA activities on geological disposal, technical cooperation and information exchange with other nuclear waste management organizations worldwide.
• ANDRA (France)coreTechnology or IntegrationCooperation agreement for information exchange and joint research on geological disposal technology, site selection, safety evaluation, and public communication activities.
• BGE (Germany)coreTechnology or IntegrationCooperation agreement for information exchange on geological disposal technology, site selection methodologies, and technical development.
• US DOE (Department of Energy)coreTechnology or IntegrationCooperation agreement for joint research and information exchange on geological disposal technology and nuclear waste management practices.
• KORAD (Korea)coreTechnology or IntegrationCooperation agreement for technical exchange on geological disposal technology, safety assessment, and site selection for radioactive waste management.
• NAGRA (Switzerland)coreTechnology or IntegrationCooperation agreement for joint research and technical information exchange on geological disposal, leveraging Switzerland's advanced radioactive waste management expertise.
• UK NDA (Nuclear Decommissioning Authority)coreTechnology or IntegrationCooperation agreement for information exchange on geological disposal technology, site selection, and public engagement strategies.
• NWMO (Canada)coreTechnology or IntegrationCooperation agreement for technical exchange on geological disposal methodologies, site selection processes, and public communication approaches.
• Posiva (Finland)coreTechnology or IntegrationCooperation agreement for information exchange on geological disposal, leveraging Finland's experience as a leader in implementing geological disposal programs.
• SKB (Sweden)coreTechnology or IntegrationCooperation agreement for joint research and technical information exchange on geological disposal, drawing on Sweden's advanced repository program.
• Taiwan Power CompanycoreTechnology or IntegrationCooperation agreement for information exchange on radioactive waste management and geological disposal technology.
• RWMC (Radioactive Waste Management Funding Center)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDomestic cooperation for information exchange and research on radioactive waste disposal in Japan.
• CRIEPI (Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry)coreTechnology or IntegrationDomestic cooperation for joint research on geological disposal technology and safety evaluation.
• JAEA (Japan Atomic Energy Agency)coreTechnology or IntegrationDomestic cooperation for technical exchange on geological disposal research, underground research, and safety assessment.
• JNFL (Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited)coreTechnology or IntegrationDomestic cooperation for information exchange on nuclear fuel cycle and radioactive waste management.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• NDA (Nuclear Decommissioning Authority): UK body overseeing decommissioning and radioactive waste management, including geological disposal via the GDF program. Broader scope than NUMO but with overlapping geological disposal responsibilities and an active cooperation agreement.

Direct peers

• ANDRA (Agence nationale pour la gestion des déchets radioactifs): France's national radioactive waste management agency, responsible for designing, building, and operating France's deep geological disposal facility (Cigéo). Direct counterpart to NUMO in mandate, regulatory role, and multi-barrier repository technology.
• BGE (Bundesgesellschaft für Endlagerung): Germany's federally-owned implementing organization for siting and operating a high-level radioactive waste repository. Direct peer in mandate and three-stage site selection process, with active cooperation agreement with NUMO.
• NWMO (Nuclear Waste Management Organization): Canada's nuclear waste management organization responsible for implementing Adaptive Phased Management for spent fuel. Identical naming convention and mandate scope, with active NUMO cooperation on technical exchange and public communication.
• Posiva: Finnish nuclear waste management company implementing the world's first geological disposal facility at Olkiluoto (operating license granted). Most operationally advanced peer to NUMO, with whom NUMO has a formal cooperation agreement.
• SKB (Svensk Kärnbränslehantering): Swedish nuclear fuel and waste management company developing the Forsmark deep geological repository. Direct peer implementing the same multi-barrier KBS-3 technology NUMO is adapting for Japan.
• Nagra (National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste): Swiss organization responsible for geological disposal of radioactive waste, with a designated site (Nördlich Lägern) advancing to licensing. Comparable in program stage, technical depth, and public engagement methodology.

Emerging players

• KORAD (Korea Radioactive Waste Agency): Korea's specialized radioactive waste management agency, currently focused on interim storage and developing a deep geological disposal program. Comparable mandate to NUMO but at an earlier program stage.

Others

• RWMC (Radioactive Waste Management Funding Center): Domestic Japanese organization that manages funding for radioactive waste management. Adjacent to NUMO in the Japanese nuclear back-end ecosystem, handling funding rather than disposal implementation.
• JAEA (Japan Atomic Energy Agency): Japan's national R&D body for nuclear energy, performing complementary underground research and safety assessment for NUMO. Domestic peer with overlapping technical mission but distinct R&D rather than implementing role.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCWkXz0HwsaabNZIuCzgQwLg
• Facebookfacebook.com/numojp
• Instagraminstagram.com/numo.jp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/%E5%8E%9F%E5%AD%90%E5%8A%9B%E7%99%BA%E9%9B%BB%E7%92%B0%E5%A2%83%E6%95%B4%E5%82%99%E6%A9%9F%E6%A7%8B

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 原子力発電環境整備機構 Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Japan (NUMO)