TOKYO — Japan formally approved a plan Wednesday to scrap an experimental fast-breeder nuclear reactor that drained government finances for decades without living up to hopes it would be a savior for the resource-poor country's energy needs.

Government ministers decided to decommission the trouble-plagued "Monju" reactor. It has cost Japan about 1 trillion yen ($9 billion) while operating only 250 days since it started up 22 years ago.

The so-called "dream reactor" was designed to burn a plutonium-uranium mix, while potentially producing more plutonium in the process that could be converted into more nuclear fuel.

The reactor suffered a leakage of sodium, used as coolant, in 1995, months after it went online, a major accident that caused its initial yearslong suspension before more recent safety problems.
(from the New York Times)

decide　　　決定する
scrap　　　～を廃棄する
fast-breeder nuclear reactor　 高速増殖炉
cost $_　 ＿ドル（のコストが）かかる

　１兆円という多額の金がドブに捨てられた。その責任をだれがとるのか。マスコミもあまり話題にしていない。１兆円あれば低所得者向けの廉価な老人施設がかなり建設できた、と思う。もったいない。