Japan must speed up the Nuclear Regulatory Agency’s (NRA) safety reviews of nuclear reactors if it is to facilitate their prompt return to operation and ensure that climate goals are achieved, an International Energy Agency report says.
The report, which reviews energy policy in Japan, calls on the government to find the human and financial resources needed to accelerate safety reviews of reactors, only nine of which from a possible 33 have restarted since the March 2011 Fukushima-Daiichi accident.
As of January 2020, reviews of 15 of 33 operable reactors had been completed. Another 10 were still under review and eight had not yet applied.
The report warns that reactor restarts are facing significant implementation costs ranging from $700m to $1bn per unit, regardless of reactor size or age.
The report, which reviews energy policy in Japan, calls on the government to find the human and financial resources needed to accelerate safety reviews of reactors, only nine of which from a possible 33 have restarted since the March 2011 Fukushima-Daiichi accident.
As of January 2020, reviews of 15 of 33 operable reactors had been completed. Another 10 were still under review and eight had not yet applied.
The report warns that reactor restarts are facing significant implementation costs ranging from $700m to $1bn per unit, regardless of reactor size or age.
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