Move is major change from policies introduced after 2011 Fukushima disaster
Japan’s nuclear regulator has approved draft legislation to allow commercial nuclear power plants to operate longer, in a split decision in which one of the five commissioners dissented.
The Nuclear Regulation Authority, responding to a new government policy to abolish the current 60-year operating limit for reactors, adopted a new system in which additional operating extensions can granted every 10 years after 30 years of service.
No maximum limit is specified. The NRA also adopted a draft revision of the reactor regulation law for approval by parliament.
It is a major change from the current 40-year operating limit with a possible one-time extension of up to 20 years, a rule that was introduced as part of stricter safety standards adopted after the 2011 Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear plant disaster.
Prime minister Fumio Kishida’s Cabinet adopted a plan last week to maximise the use of nuclear energy, including accelerating restarts of halted reactors, prolonging the operational life of aging plants and development of next-generation reactors to replace those designated for decommissioning.
Tokyo Targeting Advanced Reactors In 2030s
The government aims to begin operating next-generation reactors in the 2030s.
The new “green transformation” policy is part of efforts to cut carbon emissions while ensuring adequate national energy supply.
It will effectively extend the amount of time reactors can remain operational beyond 60 years by excluding time spent on inspections and other periods they are offline from consideration when calculating their total service life.
Before Fukushima-Daiichi, Japan’s fleet of 54 nuclear plants generated about 30% of the country’s electricity. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency that figure was 7.2% in 2021.
Anti-nuclear sentiment and safety concerns increased in Japan after Fukushima and restart approvals under stricter safety standards have been slow.
According to the Tokyo-based Japan Atomic Industrial Forum, operators have applied for restarts at 27 reactors in the past decade. Seventeen have passed safety checks and only 10 have resumed operations.
