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Japan's nuclear regulator allows 20 year extension of aged reactors

Xinhua, June 20, 2016 Adjust font size:

Japan's nuclear regulator on Monday green lit a plan to extend the life of two of the world's oldest nuclear reactors that are based on the coast of the Sea of Japan by a further 20 years in an unprecedented move since stricter rules were introduced in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

The Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) told Kansai Electric Power Co. it could go ahead with a plan to extend the operation of the No.1 and No.2 reactors at the Takahama nuclear plant in Fukui Prefecture on the Sea of Japan. Both reactors are more than 40 years old.

The approval was granted following an inspection of the facilities finding that the deterioration rate was satisfactory and following upgrades being made by the utility to reduce fire risks to sensitive cables, along with other safety improvements in April, with the NRA deciding that a 20 year extension would be granted for the two aged reactors, which are among the oldest operable reactors in the world.

Following the Fukushima disaster in 2011, stricter regulations stated that the lifespan of a nuclear reactor would be 40 years before it would be decommissioned, but a clause was entered into the new safety protocols that stated that if the NRA decide, the lifespan could be extended by a further 20 years.

The decision on extending the lifespan of the reactors was made unanimously by the nuclear watchdog, despite harsh criticism from local officials and residents in the vicinity of the reactors who are concerned about the degradation of the reactors that may not have been detected and could lead to a fatal Fukushima-like accident.

The NRA did stipulate, however, that an upgrade to the reactors' earthquake resistance technology still needs to be implemented by the utility, with a plan laid out by the utility to bolster the resistance of the reactors to a sizable temblor striking being approved by the NRA in June.

The approvals deadline has been extended by the NRA to July 7 so that Kansai Electric can complete three key procedures, and the utility has said it will take about 3 years for it to fully carry out all the necessary upgrades, in line with post-Fukushima safety protocols.

The reactors will be brought online once all the upgrades have been completed the NRA said. Both reactors have seen their operations halted for regular checkups since 2011. Endit