1 February (NucNet): Unit 5 at Japan’s Hamaoka nuclear power plant was restarted on 25 January 2011 following a shutdown period of 18 months, the Japan Atomic Industrial Forum (JAIF) said yesterday.
The utility company operating the reactor, Chubu Electric Power Company, restarted operation of the unit after it shut down on 11 August 2009 following a 6.4-magnitude earthquake which hit Suruga Bay, about 85 kilometres from the plant.
According to yesterday’s announcement by JAIF, Chubu Electric replaced the unit’s low-pressure turbines which had been damaged in 2006. The unit was subject to an inspection before the restart of operation was approved.
Chubu Electric is to stop the reactor again and check for equipment problems during adjustment operations.
According to JAIF, Hamaoka-5 experienced “greater observed effects” from the earthquake than units 3 and 4 which returned to operation in October 2009. Hamaoka-3 was undergoing periodic inspection at the time the earthquake hit, but units 4 and 5 were automatically shut down. Units 1 and 2 were shut down for decommissioning.
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
Two Hamaoka Units Shut Down In Japan Earthquake (News In Brief No. 101, 11 August 2008) 11.08.2009
Japan’s Hamaoka-4 Prepares For Return To Operations (World Nuclear Review No. 39, 25 September 2009)
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