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 …

France postpones target for cutting nuclear share of power production

PARIS (Reuters) – The French government has postponed a long-held target to reduce the share of nuclear energy in the country’s power production after grid operator RTE warned it risked supply shortages after 2020 and could miss a goal to curb carbon emissions. Environment Minister Nicolas Hulot said on Tuesday it was not realistic to …

South Korea to cut number of nuclear reactors from 24 to 14 by 2038

The South Korean government has decided to gradually reduce the number of nuclear reactors to 14 by 2038. It will cancel plans to build a further six new nuclear reactors, will not allow lifespan extension for 14 aged reactors, and will close Wolsong-1 earlier than scheduled. Paik Un-gyu, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, announced …