information about Fukushima published in English in Japanese media info publiée en anglais dans la presse japonaise
2 Avril 2015
April 2, 2015
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/nuclear.html
Apr. 2, 2015 - Updated 10:52 UTC+2
Japan's nuclear regulators have begun screening for restarts of 3 aging reactors on the Sea of Japan coast in Fukui Prefecture, central Japan.
The reactors at the Takahama and Mihama plants are the first to undergo the screening as they approach a new 40-year age limit for operation.
Members of the Nuclear Regulation Authority and other officials met on Thursday to start screening the No.1 and 2 reactors at Takahama and No.3 reactor at Mihama.
Both plants are operated by Kansai Electric Power Company.
To bring reactors back online, their operators must meet government requirements introduced after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear crisis to prepare them for disasters.
Under the regulations, reactors can operate for 40 years in principle. Extensions of up to 20 years are allowed only when they clear both the screening for restarts and special inspections for possible deterioration.
Kansai Electric officials explained at the meeting what safety steps they take.
One major challenge with old reactors is preventing electric cable fires. The officials say they plan to replace hundreds of kilometers of cables per reactor with those made of flame-retardant materials or apply to them fire-resistant coatings.
The officials also say they will build a new emergency operation facility for the Takahama plant.
The firm originally planned to use the No.1 and 2 reactor buildings in case of emergencies at the No.3 and 4 reactors, which have already cleared screening.
The regulators asked the utility for further details on ways to confirm that the cables are fireproof and responses to simultaneous accidents at Takahama's 4 reactors.
The plant has until July next year and the Mihama plant until November next year to clear the screening.
If the 3 reactors fail to meet the many requirements by then, the utility is to be required to decommission them.
Kyodo
The nuclear regulator on Thursday began screening three Kansai Electric Power Co. reactors which the utility wants to bring back online and keep in service beyond their mandated 40-year life span. All three are now nearing that limit.
A regulation brought in after the March 2011 nuclear disaster forbids the operation of nuclear reactors for more than 40 years, although operators can secure a 20-year extension if the reactors are refitted and obtain safety clearance from the Nuclear Regulation Authority.
Before the nuclear crisis, Kansai Electric was heavily reliant on atomic power. It hopes to restart the No. 3 unit at its Mihama plant and Nos. 1 and 2 units at the Takahama plant, all located on the Sea of Japan coast in Fukui Prefecture.
But Kansai Electric faces the daunting task of upgrading old equipment and clearing regulator screening within certain time limits.
For example, the new regulations require utilities to install power cables made from fire-retardant materials. Kepco hopes to clear the NRA checks by coating existing cables with non-flammable paint.
The company has decided to scrap its Nos. 1 and 2 reactors at the Mihama plant, which are both over 40 years old, believing that it was not economical to invest in costly refits, given the reactors’ comparatively small output.
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