18 May (NucNet): The Japanese government has asked households and businesses for power savings of 15 percent in the area served by Kansai Electric Power Company (Kepco), operator of three nuclear plants.
According to a government statement today cuts of 5-10 percent have also been requested in other parts of western Japan.
The government said the request was not mandatory, but it needed citizens to save electricity until the situation regarding the country’s fleet of 50 nuclear reactor units is clarified. All 50 reactors in Japan have offline since the last one shut down for maintenance on 5 May.
The Japan Atomic Industrial Forum (JAIF) said central government is pushing for approval from towns and prefectures that host reactors to go back online.
Earlier this week JAIF said the Ohi town assembly gave the green light to restarting units 3 and 4 at the Ohi nuclear plant, operated by Kepco.
Kepco operates 11 units at its three nuclear plants. The plants are Ohi (four units), Mihama (3) and Takahama (4).
