nuclear-news

Safety inspections for Japan’s nuclear plants will delay any restart

Japan’s nuclear plants unlikely to restart in 2013 By MarketWatch, 3 Mar 13, TOKYO–None of Japan’s nuclear power plants that have been idled since the nuclear crisis triggered by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami are likely to restart operations within the year as safety checks under new standards are not expected to be completed, a Kyodo news agency survey of utilities showed Sunday.

Kansai Electric Power Co.’s Oi plant in Fukui Prefecture, currently the only operating nuclear plant in the country, is also likely to be suspended in September for routine checks regardless of the new safety standards that are planned to enter into force in July, according to the survey of the 10 power companies that have nuclear plants.

Kyodo reported the financial burden on the utilities is increasing as they enhance preventive measures following the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant.

The companies expect the cost of implementing the new standards will total at least 1.1 trillion yen ($11.75 billion), with Kansai Electric saying 285.5 billion yen is needed in the medium to long term.

Kyushu Electric Power Co. said it could restart two of its nuclear reactors in southwestern Japan in July if inspections by the Nuclear Regulation Authority are completed swiftly, but all the other utilities declined to provide specific dates……. Although the authority is now aiming to speed up the process, broader safety measures under the new standards are expected to make it difficult for inspections to be completed by the end of the year. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/japans-nuclear-plants-unlikely-to-restart-in-2013-2013-03-03

March 4, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Japan, politics