25 Feb (NucNet): Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) yesterday approved the Takahama-1 and Takahama-2 nuclear plants, owned and operated by the Kansai Electric Power Company (Kepco) as compatible with new regulatory standards introduced after the March 2011 Fukushima-Daiichi accident.
Both units, in Fukui Prefecture, southwestern Japan, have been in commercial operation for more than 40 years – Takahama-1 since November 1974 and Takahama-2 since November 1975.
According to the Japan Atomic Industrial Forum (Jaif) this is the first time that reactors of this age have received NRA approval to resume operation.
Jaif said that for the units to be restarted, permission to extend their operating lifetimes will have to be granted by a regulatory deadline of July 2016.
Formal government hearings and public consultation will also be held, Jaif said. There are four pressurised water reactor units at the Takahama nuclear station.
Takahama-3 was restarted on 29 January 2016 and Takahama-4 has had fuel loaded in preparation for restart.
Takahama-4 is scheduled to be the fourth reactor to restart in Japan after all the country’s reactors were shut down for safety checks following Fukushima-Daiichi.
