nuclear-news

Doubts on when, or IF, Japan’s idled nuclear reactors will restart

Restart schedule for idled nuclear reactors still in limbo, Mainichi Daily News, Japan July 16, 2011 The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency’s draft plan for two-stage stress tests on Japan’s nuclear reactors does not state how long the first stage of the assessments will take, making it impossible to predict when currently idled reactors can be restarted.

The government agency simply said timing for the restart of reactors idled for regular inspections or shut down in the aftermath of the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant depends on the investigative reports to be submitted by nuclear plant operators. Furthermore, Prime Minister Naoto Kan and three Cabinet members will decide whether to allow any of the idled reactors to be restarted.

According to the nuclear agency, 19 nuclear reactors, including the No. 3 reactor at the Genkai Nuclear Power Plant operated by Kyushu Electric Power Co., will be subjected to first-stage tests. Second-stage tests will be conducted on 50 reactors including those subject to the first-stage tests as well as those under construction, but excluding those at the Fukushima No. 1 and No. 2 nuclear power plants and the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant…….

The inspection reports, however, are not simply a rubber-stamp process for the reactivation of nuclear reactors. Kan says he, the minister of economy, trade and industry, the minister in charge of nuclear accidents and the chief Cabinet secretary will make the final decision in each case, taking safety concerns, the sentiments of local authorities and residents and other factors into consideration…..http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110716p2a00m0na013000c.html

July 16, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Japan, politics