NRA begins inspection of Sendai Plant

June 8, 2015

Nuclear regulators inspecting Sendai plant

Jun. 8, 2015 - Updated 09:42 UTC+2

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

Japanese nuclear regulators have begun inspecting a nuclear power plant in southwestern Japan to see if its operator is complying with new safety management rules. These include emergency responses.

Inspectors from the Secretariat of the Nuclear Regulation Authority on Monday began the 3-week probe at the Sendai plant in Kagoshima Prefecture.

Last month, the NRA approved the safety management rules for the No.1 and No. 2 reactors drawn up by operator Kyushu Electric Power Company.

The rules were the first to win approval based on tougher regulations that were introduced after the 2011 accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant.

The inspectors will check if the utility has prepared detailed manuals in line with its new rules.

If they find any serious violations, Kyushu Electric may not be allowed to restart reactors at the plant until it takes measures to address them.

The utility hopes to restart the No.1 reactor in mid-August. But equipment inspections are falling behind schedule.