Japan might start buying back reprocessed nuclear waste from France as early as April 2009, reports revealed last week. The plan reportedly has been initiated as the resource-poor country looks to start using the fuel for the first time. Japan ships spent nuclear fuel to France but it would mark the first time since 2001 it has received back reprocessed fuel amid safety concerns by local residents. French nuclear giant Areva has already reprocessed the used nuclear fuel shipped from three regional power companies — Kyushu Electric, Shikoku Electric and Chubu Electric – according to a person at Areva’s Japan branch cited in local media.