13 Sep (NucNet): Kansai Electric Power Company has published details of work it will carry out to improve the safety of its Takahama-1 and -2 nuclear reactor units in Fukui prefecture, southwest Japan, in an effort to operate them for 60 years, the Japan Atomic Industrial Forum (Jaif) said. In June 2015 the two units were approved to have their operating periods extended to 60 years, or two decades beyond the original 40 years. It was the first time that nuclear units in Japan had been granted such clearance. However, various upgrades need to be carried out including installation of shielding for the upper parts of the containment vessels, replacement of refuelling water tanks, additional fire protection, relocation of the seawater intake facility for Unit 2 and replacement of central control panels. The work is scheduled to be completed the work during the 2019 fiscal year, Jaif said. Both units are 780-MW pressurised water reactors. Takahama-1 began commercial operation in November 1974 and Takahama-2 in November 1975. They have been shut down since inspections in 2011 following the Fukushima-Daiichi accident.
