Japan Pushes for Nuclear Reactor Restart... Also Considering New Reactor Construction and Operation Period Extension

Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant in Japan
[Photo by AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The Japanese government is reportedly considering extending the operating period of nuclear power plants, which is currently capped at 60 years, and restarting seven reactors that have been shut down, according to Nihon Keizai on the 27th.

On the same day, the Japanese government discussed extending the operating period of nuclear power and plans for new next-generation nuclear power plants at the 'GX Implementation Meeting' held at the Prime Minister's Office.

Since the Fukushima nuclear accident in March 2011, Japan revised the Reactor Regulation Law to set the operating period of nuclear power plants at 40 years. However, with approval from the Nuclear Regulation Authority, the lifespan can be extended by up to 20 additional years.

Nihon Keizai reported that Prime Minister Kishida is seeking ways to extend the operating period of nuclear power plants by excluding the time taken for safety inspections from the operating period. For example, the Tomari Nuclear Power Plant Units 1 to 3 in Hokkaido took 10 years for safety inspections alone; excluding this period could extend the operating period by 10 years.

Additionally, the government is pushing to restart seven nuclear reactors that were shut down after the Fukushima accident due to power shortages. Nihon Keizai reported that the reactors targeted for restart include Tokyo Electric Power Company's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant Units 6 and 7, Kansai Electric Power's Takahama Nuclear Power Plant Units 1 and 2, and Tohoku Electric Power's Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant Unit 2.

The Japanese government plans to operate a total of 17 nuclear reactors, including the 10 currently restarted units. Japan owns 33 nuclear reactors, but only six are currently in operation. However, the restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant remains uncertain due to insufficient nuclear material protection measures.

Furthermore, Prime Minister Kishida has instructed to consider the development of next-generation nuclear power plants. Asahi Shimbun reported, "The government has changed its previous stance of reducing nuclear dependency," and added, "If the government policy on new nuclear plant construction is finalized, it will be the biggest shift in nuclear policy since the 2011 nuclear accident."