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Japan on Monday reopened procedures to allow idled nuclear reactors to be restarted, setting new nuclear regulations that reflect the lessons learned from the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi power plant disaster, local media reported.
While power utilities rushed to file applications with the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) for safety assessments of a total of 10 reactors, none of them are likely to restart soon as it could take about six months for each process to finish, Kyodo News Agency said.
The NRA calls the level of the nuclear regulations the world's toughest. Kyodo said that utilities may also choose to give up efforts to restart some of the country's 50 commercial reactors and abandon them rather than investing in expensive safety measures.
Four regional utilities filed applications for the restart of 10 reactors at five nuclear power plants in Hokkaido, Fukui, Ehime, and Kagoshima prefectures on Monday.
Among those applying for restarts, reactors that could advance others include the No. 3 unit at Shikoku Electric Power Co.'s Ikata plant in Ehime Prefecture, which has been found not to have geologic faults that need to be checked and has already prepared a newly required seismic-isolated emergency response center, said Kyodo News.
The regulations also stipulate reactors must have a venting system with filters that can reduce the amount of radioactive substances when pressure needs to be released from reactor containers during emergencies. However pressurized water reactors like the No. 3 unit at the Ikata plant are given a five-year moratorium to meet the requirement.
Meanwhile, requirements are stricter for aging units that will not only have to satisfy the new regulations but also undergo special inspections to continue to operate beyond 40 years, according to local media reports.
The existence of active faults running beneath atomic power plants could also be a critical factor that will result in a permanent shutdown of reactors.
Japan entered a period of no nuclear power time in May last year, but the government has allowed the restart of two reactors at Kansai Electric Power Co.'s Oi plant in July the same year to tackle power shortage problems in the summer in western Japan.
No other reactors have since then resumed operation while the NRA was launched in September to make the country's new nuclear regulations.
After a reactor was confirmed satisfying the new regulations by the NRA, the operator will then seek the approval of the local people to restart them, said the reports.
