40-year-old Cho-Takahama Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 restarts after 12 years

Source: https://www3-nhk-or-jp.translate.goog/lnews/fukui/20230728/3050015301.html?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=nl&_x_tr_pto=wapp

Kansai Electric Power's Takahama Nuclear Power Station Unit 1 in Fukui Prefecture, which has been in operation for over 40 years, restarted on the afternoon of the 28th for the first time in about 12 years. It is the oldest nuclear power plant in Japan that has not been decommissioned, and is the second case in the country to restart beyond the 40-year operating period in principle.

After the accident at Tokyo Electric Power Company's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, domestic nuclear power plants are legally limited to operating for 40 years in principle, but if they pass a national review, they will be able to extend their operation up to 60 years.

Kansai Electric Power's Takahama Nuclear Power Station Unit 1, which has been in operation for 48 years, is the oldest nuclear power plant in Japan that has not been decommissioned. The anti-terrorism facility was incomplete and postponed its restart.

Since the facility was completed in July and inspections by the government were completed, on the 28th, an operator of Kansai Electric Power operated a panel in the central control room, pulled out the control rod that suppresses the nuclear fission reaction, Around the same time, the reactor was started up and restarted.

Under the current system, which limits the operating period to 40 years in principle, it will be the second case in Japan to restart, following Mihama Nuclear Power Station Unit 3, which is also located in Fukui Prefecture.

According to Kansai Electric Power Co., if the work proceeds smoothly, the nuclear fission reaction will reach a critical state in the morning of the 29th, and it is expected that power generation and transmission will start on August 2nd.