KEPCO not worried about 40-year limit

November 13, 2014

KEPCO seeks extension for 2 nuclear reactors beyond 40-year limit

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20141113p2a00m0na001000c.html

Kansai Electric Power Co. (KEPCO) is set to apply to extend the operation period of two aged reactors at its Takahama nuclear plant in Fukui Prefecture by 20 years as the reactors will soon reach their 40-year limit, it has been learned.

KEPCO executives concluded that the company can expect high returns from running the No. 1 and No. 2 reactors at Takahama Nuclear Power Plant as their power-generating capacity is high at 826,000 kilowatts each. The utility is set to begin special inspections of the two reactors as early as the end of this year and plans to apply for an extension with the Nuclear Regulation Authority next spring.

The government has decided to limit the operation period of nuclear reactors to 40 years in response to the Great East Japan Earthquake and the meltdown at the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant. At the same time, it would allow a 20-year extension for the use of reactors on condition that plant operators conduct special inspections and take greatly enhanced safety measures.

Japan has seven nuclear reactors that have been under operation for about 40 years. Takahama's No. 1 reactor is turning 40 years old this month while the No. 2 reactor will reach its 40-year limit in November 2015. If the extension application for the Takahama plant is approved, it will be the first such case among the seven aged nuclear reactors.

However, KEPCO has a rough road ahead. The cost of safety measures for the aged nuclear plants may be higher than what the utility expects as special inspection standards are set stricter than regular inspection guidelines. In addition, the operation of aged nuclear plants may cause deep concern among local residents.

The central government in October requested power companies to decide whether to decommission aged nuclear plants or to apply for extensions at an early stage. If the utilities look to continue the operation of those seven plants, they are required to conduct special inspections by July 2015 and pass new regulation standards set by the Nuclear Regulation Authority.

Kansai Electric mulling operation of 2 Takahama reactors beyond 40 yrs

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20141113p2g00m0bu039000c.html

TSURUGA, Japan (Kyodo) -- Kansai Electric Power Co. is making arrangements to conduct special checks to enable two reactors at its Takahama nuclear plant in central Japan to operate beyond the operational limit of 40 years, sources close to the matter said Wednesday.

Under tighter safety standards adopted following the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, the operating life of reactors is limited to 40 years in principle. Special checks are necessary for reactors to operate beyond 40 years.

If Kansai Electric decides to conduct special checks on the Nos.1 and 2 reactors at the Takahama plant in Fukui Prefecture, it would be the first Japanese utility to do so.

The utility serving western Japan is expected to make a decision on the matter by the end of this year, the sources said.

Among a total of 48 commercial reactors in Japan -- all of which are currently offline amid safety concerns following the Fukushima crisis -- seven are around 40 years old, including the two Takahama reactors and the Nos. 1 and 2 units at Kansai Electric's Mihama complex, both located in Fukui on the Sea of Japan coast.

For the seven reactors to operate beyond the 40-year limit, their operators must apply for examinations between April and July next year so that the government's approval process can be completed by the July 2016 deadline. Extensions of up to 20 years are possible for reactors that clear the special checks.

The checks on older reactors are stricter and costlier than regular checks. But Kansai Electric appears to have judged that the Nos. 1 and 2 reactors of the Takahama complex could substantially cut its power generation costs, the sources said.

Regarding its other reactors, Kansai Electric has applied to the Nuclear Regulation Authority for safety checks to resume operation of the Nos. 3 and 4 reactors at the Takahama plant and the Nos. 3 and 4 units at its Oi plant, also in Fukui Prefecture.

As the Nos. 3 and 4 reactors at the Takahama plant have already cleared regulations for tsunami and earthquake resistance, the utility expects their safety data to be partially applicable to the Nos. 1 and 2 units, the sources said.

The Nos. 1 and 2 pressurized-water reactors with capacity of 826,000 kilowatts each began operation in November 1974 and November 1975, respectively, and both went offline in 2011.

Kansai Electric is considering decommissioning the Nos. 1 and 2 reactors at the Mihama plant as over 40 years have passed since the commencement of their operations.