information about Fukushima published in English in Japanese media info publiée en anglais dans la presse japonaise
16 Juillet 2014
http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20140716p2g00m0dm035000c.html
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Regulators said Wednesday a nuclear plant in southwestern Japan cleared an initial safety hurdle, in what is seen as a major step for it to become the first nuclear facility to restart among the country's 48 offline commercial reactors since the 2011 Fukushima nuclear crisis.
The Nuclear Regulation Authority's decision-making panel approved a draft report required to resume the operations of two reactors at Kyushu Electric Power Co.'s Sendai plant in Kagoshima Prefecture.
The 420-page report -- which concluded that the plant's proposed countermeasures against earthquakes, tsunami and other possible risks meet the standards -- will be finalized after a monthlong public consultation period through Aug. 15. The new standards were introduced in July last year.
But the regional utility is not expected to reactivate the plant before this fall as it still needs to secure local consent and complete some other procedures.
With Japan experiencing its first summer without nuclear power in nearly half a century and utilities' fuel costs for thermal power generation surging, the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is keen to restart reactors after their safety is ensured.
At a press conference Wednesday morning, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga reconfirmed the government's stance on promoting nuclear power generation, which supplied some 30 percent of the country's electricity before the Fukushima crisis.
More than half of respondents in a Kyodo News survey conducted last month, however, said they oppose the reactivation of nuclear plants.
Currently, all 48 commercial reactors in Japan remain offline, as the nuclear crisis at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima Daiichi complex, the worst since the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, has made it difficult for utilities to resume their operation after mandatory regular checks.
To be restarted, reactors need to pass the regulatory body's safety assessments based on the new standards.
Kyushu Electric was among the first utilities to apply for the agency's safety screening when the new regulations took effect. The Sendai plant emerged as the leading candidate for resumption after clearing key hurdles for earthquake and tsunami hazards that could affect the coastal complex.
The new regulations require plant operators to implement measures in light of the lessons learned from the Fukushima nuclear disaster, triggered by a massive earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011.
Under what the government calls the world's toughest nuclear regulations, utilities are obliged to put in place countermeasures against possible severe accidents such as reactor core meltdowns and huge tsunami, as well as terrorist attacks.
While some experts have argued that Kyushu Electric is underestimating possible volcanic eruptions that could affect the plant, the agency supported the utility's claim that such risks are "small enough."
Kyushu Electric and eight other utilities have applied for safety screenings for a total of 19 reactors so far.
July 16, 2014(Mainichi Japan)
Regulators approve draft nuclear assessment
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20140716_80.html
Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority has approved a draft safety plan for restarting reactors at the Sendai nuclear plant in Kagoshima Prefecture.
The facility in southern Japan is operated by Kyushu Electric Power Company. It could be the first nuclear plant in the country to get the go-ahead to resume operation.
NRA officials unanimously approved the draft plan on Wednesday. They said the utility has satisfied their stricter safety requirements for nuclear facilities.
The NRA will issue their final assessment of the plan after 30 days of public hearings, starting on Thursday.
The focus will then shift to whether the government and the utility can convince local residents and municipalities to agree.
Kyushu Electric must also clear procedures for restarting the reactors. These include inspections, and getting the NRA to approve the design of equipment at the plant.
Observers say the reactors are unlikely to be back online until October at the earliest.
Japan introduced new safety guidelines for nuclear reactors last year after the meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi plant in March 2011.
The guidelines require nuclear plants to come up with stricter measures against natural disasters including earthquakes and tsunami.
Utilities must also come up with a plan of action against serious nuclear accidents at their plants. The action plan had been voluntary in the past.
All 48 nuclear reactors across Japan are currently offline. They must be screened by the Nuclear Regulation Authority before being restarted.
A total of 19 reactors at 12 plants, including the Sendai Plant, have been undergoing screening since last July.
The nuclear regulator set up two teams. One is in charge of estimating the scale of possible natural disasters for the reactor in question, and the other checks the facility's safety measures. The teams have conducted screening meetings open to the public.
So far, screening for pressurized water reactors at 6 nuclear plants is preceding other applications.
Jul. 16, 2014 - Updated 04:26 UTC
Regulators approve draft nuclear assessment
Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority has approved a draft safety plan for restarting reactors at the Sendai nuclear plant in Kagoshima Prefecture.
The facility in southern Japan is operated by Kyushu Electric Power Company. It could be the first nuclear plant in the country to get the go-ahead to resume operation.
NRA officials unanimously approved the draft plan on Wednesday. They said the utility has satisfied their stricter safety requirements for nuclear facilities.
The new standards were introduced last year in response to the nuclear disaster in Fukushima 3 years ago.
The NRA will issue their final assessment of the plan after 30 days of public hearings, starting on Thursday.
The focus will then shift to whether the government and the utility can convince local residents and municipalities to agree.
Kyushu Electric must also clear procedures for restarting the reactors. These include inspections, and getting the NRA to approve the design of equipment at the plant.
Observers say the reactors are unlikely to be back online until October at the earliest.
Jul. 16, 2014 - Updated 04:04 UTC
Nuclear regulators present draft safety assessment
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20140716_15.html
Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority has compiled a draft safety assessment that paves the way for Kyushu Electric Power Company to restart 2 of its nuclear reactors.
Regulators on Wednesday presented the draft assessment, which effectively approves safety measures carried out by the utility to restart the No.1 and No.2 reactors at its Sendai nuclear power plant in Kagoshima Prefecture.
Regulators say the measures meet the stricter safety standards introduced in response to the nuclear crisis in Fukushima in 2011. They noted that the utility has raised the estimated strength of an earthquake that could hit the plant and has put in place adequate measures to deal with serious accidents.
The regulators are expected to approve the draft later on Wednesday.
Before issuing a final assessment, they will hear comments from the public. The Sendai plant would be the first in Japan to satisfy the revised safety requirements.
The focus will then shift to whether the government and the utility can convince local residents and municipalities that the reactors are necessary and safe.
Kyushu Electric must also clear other procedures, which include obtaining approval from the NRA on the design of equipment at the plant. Observers say the earliest the reactors are likely to go back online is in October.
Jul. 16, 2014 - Updated 02:54 UTC
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