Takahama reactors

February 16, 2015

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/nuclearwatch/20150216.html

Nuclear Watch : Takahama Reactors Clear Screening

Kurando Tago, NHK WORLD

The operator of a nuclear power plant in central Japan is a step closer to restarting two reactors after government regulators approved the plan. The facility is the second to meet the new regulations introduced after the 2011 Fukushima accident, but not everyone agrees with the decision.

Officials with the Nuclear Regulation Authority were unanimous in giving approval for the restart. They say the No. 3 and No. 4 reactors of the Takahama nuclear plant meet the new requirements for withstanding potential earthquakes and tsunami. "We've confirmed the plant's operator will guarantee the level of safety that the authority is demanding," says Shunichi Tanaka, the authority's chairman.

The operator, Kansai Electric Power Company, is hoping to bring the reactors back online in November. But it still needs to win the approval of local governments, while some people are raising concerns about safety.

Dozens of people rallied in front of the NRA's office to protest the authority's decision. Operators are looking for consent from Fukui Prefecture as well as Takahama town, which host the plant.

But authorities with other local governments want their voices heard as well. They want Kansai Electric to get approval from all municipalities within the plant's 30-kilometer zone. Officials in those areas are obliged to draw up disaster-readiness plans, and some residents are voicing anxiety. "The plant's existence is desirable in terms of employment as many people work there," says one resident. "But when it comes to the plant's safety risks, it's a different story."

"Our community is in close proximity to the nuclear plant. We want a framework that makes sure our voices will be heard," says Kyoto Prefecture Governor Keiji Yamada, adding he has notified Kansai Electric of the concerns.

People around the world saw how the Fukushima disaster affected the lives of nearby residents. Now residents near the Takahama plant say Kansai Electric must come face-to-face with their concerns.