Resuming Old Reactors

Nuclear Regulation Authority on Monday approved the reactors #1 and #2 in Takahama Nuclear Power Plant, owned by Kansai Electric Power Company, to extend its operation for 20 years. It was the first time for nuclear reactors with 40 years old or more to survive the regulation of dismantling old reactors. While nuclear regulation policy has been focusing on safety, the decision marked a turning point to put priority on economic efficiency rather than people’s life.

Revised Nuclear Reactors Regulation Act determined the life of a reactor to be 40 years old, which was regarded as the time when pressure vessel would be deteriorated in exposure to neutron. But, it included an exceptional provision that allows 20 years of extension, if NRA had endorsed safety of the reactor. But, the exception had been recognized as extremely exceptional by the administration of Democratic Party of Japan at that time.

In the examination of NRA on Takahama reactors, safety of combustible cable with 1,300 kilometers long was focused. KEPCO replaced six-tenths of whole cable into incombustible and rest of the cable was wrapped around by fire-proof sheet. NRA also exercised “special inspection” on the reactors. For NRA, there was a risk of being a defendant in a lawsuit from KEPCO, if it would decide dismantlement of Takahama reactors.

As its result, NRA left confirmation of the strength of the reactors against earthquake behind. Examination on cooing-down system, which would take a few years, was not completed and postponed to the time after resumption. It is unbelievable for an authority that was established with serious lessons of nuclear accident caused by earthquake to ignore the safety of nuclear reactors in possible earthquake.

It has been worried that the exceptional provision would make the law castrated. That concern became a real. Shinzo Abe administration upholds a plan to increase nuclear power generation to the level that it occupies 20% to 22% of all electricity in Japan. To reach that goal, extension of old reactors’ life was indispensable. NRA could not stand against the pressure from the administration and Kanden.

KEPCO delivered a victory comment. “We appreciate the active investigation,” told an officer of the company to the press. Other companies expect further resumption of old reactors, based on the model of Takahama process. While requiring the world without nuclear weapons, Japan is rebuilding its country highly based on nuclear power, leaving behind of tragic memory of deaths and long-time evacuation after a severe nuclear accident in Fukushima.