Antinuclear

12 $billion costs, and over 3 years before Japan’s nuclear reactors could restart

The regulator has said that its review of Japan’s nuclear fleet may take more than three years.

The equipment improvements the reactors need to comply with the new rules could cost the industry as much as $12 billion

Companies Face Long Wait to Restart Nuclear Plants in Japan, NYT By REUTERS July 8, 2013 TOKYO — Japanese nuclear operators applied Monday to restart reactors under rules drawn up after the Fukushima disaster, but early approval is unlikely as a more independent regulator strives to show a skeptical public it is serious about safety.

The governing Liberal Democratic Party of Japan and the utilities are eager to get reactors running again, with the reining in of soaring
fuel costs a key part of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s economic plan.

But the Liberal Democrats must tread carefully to avoid compromising the independence of the new regulator, which is struggling to build credibility with a public whose faith in nuclear power was shaken after meltdowns at Tokyo Electric Power’s Fukushima Daiichi plant.

The Nuclear Regulation Authority has said it will take at least six months to review nuclear plants, after which the consent of
communities that are host to reactors is needed…….

Polls show that a majority of Japanese want to end reliance on atomic power and are opposed to restarting the plants. But the Liberal
Democrats argue that nuclear energy will cut fuel costs that have
pushed the country into a record trade deficit and will help return
unprofitable utilities to profit.

Hokkaido Electric Power, Kansai Electric Power, Shikoku Electric Power
and Kyushu Electric Power applied to get 10 reactors restarted, the
regulator said.

Shunichi Tanaka, chairman of the Nuclear Regulation Authority, said
Thursday that elevating safety culture to international standards
would “take a long time.”

The regulator has said that its review of Japan’s nuclear fleet may take more than three years.
The difficulty the energy companies face in getting approvals was
highlighted as Tokyo Electric held back from applying to get units
started at its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa facility after the local authorities
rebuffed the company’s plans.

The equipment improvements the reactors need to comply with the new rules could cost the industry as much as $12 billion, according to oneestimate.

About 80 Nuclear Regulation Authority staff members have been divided
into three groups for the safety checks, with another group overseeing
earthquake resistance.

Japan is set to be without nuclear power again in September, for the
first time since June 2012, as its only active reactors, Kansai
Electric’s Ohi No. 3 and No. 4 units, are scheduled to enter planned
maintenance shutdowns.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/09/business/energy-environment/companies-face-long-wait-to-restart-nuclear-plants-in-japan.html?_r=0

July 8, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized