By KEITARO FUKUCHI/ Staff Writer
June 26, 2024 at 16:41 JST
Kansai Electric Power Co.’s Oi nuclear power plant in Oi, Fukui Prefecture (Toshiyuki Hayashi)
The Nuclear Regulation Authority on June 26 gave the green light to Kansai Electric Power Co.'s management plan to continue operating two nuclear reactors in Fukui Prefecture for up to 40 years from the start of operations.
The approval for the No. 3 and No. 4 reactors at the Oi nuclear power plant is based on a new system that will review plans every 10 years starting at 30 years of operations.
The system was introduced with the revision of the law in May 2023, and the approval marks the first for a nuclear power plant in Japan.
With the approval, Oi’s No. 3 reactor can operate until December 2031 and its No. 4 reactor can remain online until February 2033.
Under the old system, both reactors were allowed to operate for up to 40 years based on inspections of the state of the equipment.
Under the new system, officials examined KEPCO’s response policies in the event that parts and equipment necessary to ensure safety are discontinued, and checked the company’s data collection methods and the use of substitutes.
In May 2023, the Diet passed the GX (green transformation) decarbonized power sources law.
The law allows nuclear power plants to operate for longer than 60 years by excluding shutdown periods, which is subject to NRA review.
Electric power companies are required to create a management plan for a maximum period of 10 years, starting from 30 years of operation, and have it reviewed by the NRA.
Nuclear power plants that have been in operation for more than 30 years will not be allowed to operate without approval of a management plan after next June, when the new system comes into full effect.
Of the nuclear power plants that have resumed operation, nine reactors, in addition to Oi’s No. 3 and No. 4 reactors, will have been in operation for 30 years or more by June 2025.
On June 24, Kyushu Electric Power Co. applied for a management plan review for its Sendai nuclear power plant’s No. 1 and No. 2 reactors in Kagoshima Prefecture.
More applications are expected to follow.
NRA to extend maximum life of nuclear reactors beyond 60 years
November 3, 2022
Japan scrambles to keep nuclear plants going as long as possible
November 8, 2022
Fukui governor OKs restarts of reactors at aging nuclear plants
April 28, 2021
Fukui governor accepts utility’s nuclear fuel plan, comes under fire
October 13, 2023
Nuke reactor in Takahama back online for first time since 2011
July 28, 2023
NRA approves extending period nuclear reactors can operate
February 14, 2023
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