Not so easy to restart

October 16, 2015

Reactor restarts face hurdles

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

Oct. 16, 2015 - Updated 01:08 UTC+2

Operators of nuclear power plants in Japan want to restart more suspended reactors now that 2 reactors at the Sendai plant are back online. But things will not go as smoothly as they plan.

The No.1 and No.2 reactors at the Sendai plant in Kagoshima Prefecture came back online in August and on Thursday, respectively.

3 more reactors have already met new regulations introduced after the 2011 accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

They are the No.3 and No.4 reactors at the Takahama plant in Fukui Prefecture and the No.3 reactor at the Ikata plant in Ehime Prefecture.

The Takahama plant's operator, Kansai Electric Power Company, hopes to resume operation of its No.3 reactor in late December and the No.4 reactor in mid-January.

However, the utility needs to coordinate with local governments in Fukui and neighboring Kyoto Prefecture to create an emergency evacuation plan for communities around the plant. The Cabinet Office is helping Kansai Electric to formulate the plan.

Also, the 2 reactors must remain offline unless a court injunction to block their restart is overturned.

Regarding the Ikata reactor, the local prefectural assembly passed a resolution to allow its restart. But its restart will only come next spring or later as the reactor is undergoing detailed equipment checks by experts from the Nuclear Regulation Authority.

Moreover, it remains unclear when regulatory screenings will end for 20 other reactors at 13 plants nationwide.

Opinion polls run by NHK this month show that 18 percent of respondents support reactor restarts while 43 percent are opposed. 33 percent remain undecided.

Observers say the central government and plant operators should provide sufficient explanation and enhance their safety and disaster preparedness measures.