Screenings for restart of Tomari nuke plant likely to be prolonged

A possible active fault beneath the Tomari nuclear power plant in Hokkaido could prolong the government’s screening process for a restart and deal a major financial blow to Hokkaido Electric Power Co., the plant’s operator. On Dec. 8, the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) did not accept the assertion of Hokkaido Electric Power that no active …

Kansai Electric, Kyushu Electric delay nuclear plant restarts for Kobe Steel checks

TOKYO (Reuters) – Two Japanese nuclear operators said on Thursday they will delay the restart of nuclear plants to check whether they have received compromised parts from Kobe Steel Ltd (5406.T), which has admitted to widespread fabrication of data on products. The delays widen the impact of the Kobe Steel data fabrication scandal, which has …

Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority to require new cooling system for boiling water reactors

Japan’s nuclear watchdog finalized a decision Wednesday to require operators of boiling water reactors — the same type as those at the crisis-hit Fukushima No. 1 nuclear complex — to install new emergency cooling systems. After soliciting public comments, the Nuclear Regulation Authority approved at a regular meeting the revision of safety regulations to make …

Japan’s Kyushu Elec likely to delay nuclear plant restart due to Kobe Steel checks

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s Kyushu Electric Power Co is likely to delay the restart of a nuclear plant by several months as it makes checks related to the data-fabrication scandal that has engulfed Kobe Steel Ltd, the Nikkei business daily reported on Wednesday. That comes as Japanese nuclear operators have been checking the safety of Kobe …

Fukui’s push for reactor restarts reflects local economy’s reliance on nuclear power

Fukui Gov. Issei Nishikawa’s decision on Monday to give the go-ahead to restarting two reactors at the Oi nuclear plant highlights the local economy’s dependence on nuclear power, even 6½ years after the March 2011 Fukushima disaster. At a news conference, Nishikawa offered what he sees as the merits of a restart, saying the plant …

Tepco starts installing device to remove fuel from reactor 3 cooling pool at Fukushima No. 1

FUKUSHIMA – Tepco on Sunday began installing equipment to be used for removing fuel from the storage pool for reactor 3 at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant. The equipment, weighing 72 tons, was lifted by two large cranes. The storage pool, located in the reactor building on a floor 36 meters above ground level, holds …