After the required inspections, Kyushu Electric confirmed the soundness of the reactors and containment vessels, adding that there would be no safety issues with even 60 years of operation, the company said.
The company said: “In order to apply for approval to extend the operation life span of nuclear power stations beyond 40 years, a special inspection is required by the Nuclear Reactor Regulation Act. For Sendai Nuclear Power Station Unit 1 and 2 these inspections started on October 12, 2021 and February 21, 2022 respectively.”
Sendai-1 and -2 are both 846-MW pressurised water reactor units. Sendai-1 began commercial operation in 1984 and Sendai-2 in 1985.
If the extended operations are approved, Sendai-1 could operate until 2044 and Senda-2 to 2045.
Minister of economy, trade and industry Yasutoshi Nishimura said last month that Japan has earmarked 10 nuclear power plants for restart and is working towards restarting seven more next year as it seeks to cope with soaring energy prices.
Japan has said it will restart more idled nuclear plants and look at developing next-generation reactors as well as extending the lifespan of existing reactors in a major policy shift on nuclear energy a decade after the Fukushima disaster.
Reports in Japan quoted Nishimura as saying nuclear power will be key for Japan’s energy security as the country targets carbon neutrality.
Prime Minister Backs Reactor Restarts
The prime minister, Fumio Kishida, said he had directed a government panel to look into how “next-generation nuclear reactors equipped with new safety mechanisms” could be used to help Japan achieve its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. His “green transformation” council is expected to report back by the end of the year, he said.
Kishida told reporters he had instructed officials to come up with concrete measures by the year end, including on “gaining the understanding of the public” on sustainable energy and nuclear power.
The change of direction has highlighted Japan’s struggle to secure a stable energy supply as a result of the war in Ukraine and higher energy costs.
Japan has seen 10 commercial nuclear reactors return to service since Fukushima-Daiichi. Another 17 reactors have applied to restart.
According to the Tokyo-based Japan Atomic Industrial Forum (Jaif), the reactors that have returned to service are Genkai-3, Genkai-4, Ikata-3, Mihama-3, Ohi-3, Ohi-4, Sendai-1, Sendai-2, Takahama-3 and Takahama-4.
However, Jaif told NucNet that only five of those are operating. The other six are undergoing inspections and safety updates.
The units in operation are Takahama-3, Ohi-4, Ikata-3, Sendai-1 and Sendai-2.
