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First Japanese nuclear plant cleared for restart

Energy World; 01/09/2014

The first Japanese nuclear plant to permanently restart after the country’s Fukushima and tidal wave disaster of March 2011 is set to do so in October, following approval to do so from Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA).

Kyushu’s Sendai nuclear power plant has been given the approval following its adherence to upgraded safety requirements for reactors in Japan published in July last year. World Nuclear News described the development as a major step towards the reactor returning to service.

The Sendai 1 & 2 reactors are each 850 MW PWR reactors, commissioned in 1984. Upgrades were made to improve seismic tolerance from 400 to 620 Gal and to build a 10 m high seawall around pumps.

The shutdown of Japan’s entire nuclear fleet has caused a $134bn trade deficit in 2013 brought about by increased fossil fuel imports and lower productivity, reports World Nuclear News.

Kansai’s Takahama 3 & 4 are next in line to be cleared for restart. Ten more PWRs are queued for approval by NRA, plus seven BWRs which require more major upgrading and formal approval from local government.

News Item details

Journal title: Energy World

Keywords: Standards - Safety measures - nuclear power plant

Countries: Japan -

Subjects: Policy and Governance, Electricity from nuclear fuel, Nuclear fuel extraction and fuel processing, Tidal Power, Nuclear reactors