Takahama: One court injunction to overturn and public opinion to consider

November 25, 2015

Takahama reactors unlikely to restart this year

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20151125_34.html

Nov. 25, 2015 - Updated 11:23 UTC+1

Japan's Kansai Electric Power Company, or KEPCO, says it will delay the restart of 2 nuclear reactors in central Japan.

The company was aiming to reactivate the Number 3 reactor at the Takahama nuclear plant in Fukui Prefecture in late December and the Number 4 reactor in mid-January.

On Wednesday the company submitted to regulators a new schedule, restarting Number 3 in late January and Number 4 in late February.

The utility also plans to move nuclear fuel back into Number 3 in late December and Number 4 in late January.

In February, the 2 reactors cleared new regulations introduced after the March 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident. In August, nuclear regulators began the final stage of inspections, but the process has fallen behind schedule.

The new schedule could also see delays. In April, a district court in Fukui issued a provisional injunction blocking restarting the reactors. They cannot operate until the court overturns the injunction.

Fukui Governor Issei Nishikawa has also said local consent is necessary to restart the reactors.