人民网
Wed,Nov 26,2014
English>>World

Editor's Pick

Japan's Kansai Electric seeks operation of old nuke reactors beyond 40-year limit

(Xinhua)    18:59, November 26, 2014
Email|Print|Comments       twitter     facebook     Sina Microblog     reddit    

OSAKA, Nov. 26 -- Japanese power company Kansai Electric said on Wednesday it will seek to operate two reactors at the Takahama nuclear plant beyond the operational limit of 40 years, despite safety concerns of the public, local media reported.

The company said it plans to conduct special checks for the aging reactors, and then apply for safety screening process of the Nuclear Regulation Authority, which could grant the reactors one- time extension of up to 20 years, according to the Kyodo News.

Under tighter safety standards imposed after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, reactors are not allowed to operate more than 40 years in principle. Among Japan's 48 commercial reactors, seven are around 40 years old now.

Kansai Electric is the first utility to announce its intention of keeping old reactors in operation. With the Kansai region as its operational area, the utility has suffered severe deterioration of earnings due to high fuel costs for thermal power generation, which has made up for the absence of nuclear power after the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

The Kansai region is Japan's second-largest industrial area and its most nuclear-reliant area. Before the Fukushima disaster, nuclear plants supplied almost 50 percent of the region's power.

(Editor:Yuan Can、Bianji)
Email|Print|Comments       twitter     facebook     Sina Microblog     reddit    

Related reading

We Recommend

Most Viewed

Day|Week|Month

Key Words

Links