TEPCO eligible to operate nuke plants again...under conditions

September 14, 2017

Conditional approval of TEPCO's eligibility

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20170913_34/

Japan's nuclear regulators have affirmed that Tokyo Electric Power Company is eligible to operate nuclear reactors again, but they have imposed some conditions.

The members of the Nuclear Regulation Authority made the decision at a meeting on Wednesday.

They have been debating whether or not to give the utility a green light to restart 2 reactors at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant in Niigata Prefecture, central Japan.

TEPCO is the operator of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi plant.

During the meeting, a plan was put forth. According to the plan, TEPCO must express in its safety regulations its determination to tackle the decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi plant and its determination to prioritize safety over economic efficiency. In return, the regulators will certify that the company is eligible to operate nuclear reactors.

The plan also requires the industry ministry to make its intention to supervise the company clear.

At the meeting on Wednesday, the regulators agreed to certify that TEPCO is eligible to operate reactors as long as the industry ministry and the president of TEPCO agree to the provisions in the plan.

The regulators will compile a report that will effectively certify that TEPCO has their approval to restart the 2 reactors in Niigata.