Takahama's injunction

October 9, 2015

Takahama reactors may not restart next month

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

Oct. 8, 2015 - Updated 22:47 UTC+2

A district court in Japan has decided to hold another hearing on whether to repeal a provisional injunction banning the restart of reactors at a nuclear plant.

The injunction was issued in April following a request from 9 residents to block the reactivation of the No.3 and No.4 reactors at the Takahama plant in Fukui Prefecture, central Japan.

However, plant operator Kansai Electric Power Company asked for the nullification of the order, leading the court to open a series of hearings with a different presiding judge.

The court held its third hearing on the matter on Thursday. It decided to hold the fourth session as early as on November 13th to listen to more explanations from both sides.

The injunction remains in place at least until the court makes its decision on Kansai Electric's request.

Even if the court overturns its injunction, it will be difficult for the utility to put the reactors back online next month as it had hoped.

This is because the firm needs to gain consent from local governments and move nuclear fuel back into the reactors.