Latest news with #KansaiElectricPowerCo.
Yomiuri Shimbun
2 hours ago
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
KEPCO's Plan to Construct New Nuclear Reactor: A Step Forward from ‘Post-2011 Earthquake' Policy
After being frozen for many years following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, movement has begun toward the construction of new nuclear reactors. The hope is that Kansai Electric Power Co. will steadily proceed with the plan while carefully gaining the understanding of the public. KEPCO has announced that it will resume a geological survey on the premises of its Mihama nuclear power plant in the town of Mihama, Fukui Prefecture, in preparation for the construction of a new nuclear reactor. The company started the survey in 2010, but it was suspended following the accident at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc.'s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in 2011. Since the earthquake, there has been strong caution about the use of nuclear power plants. The last nuclear reactor that was newly built in Japan was the No. 3 reactor at Hokkaido Electric Power Co.'s Tomari nuclear power plant, which went into operation in 2009. In recent years, household budgets have been suffering from rising electricity bills due to higher energy prices caused mainly by Russia's aggression against Ukraine and instability in the Middle East. The public has become more aware of energy security, and understanding of the need for nuclear power generation that is compatible with decarbonization has grown. KEPCO may have now clearly expressed its intention to build a new nuclear reactor in light of these changes. KEPCO envisions that the surveying will take around several years. After that, it plans to submit its construction plan to the Nuclear Regulation Authority. It could take about 20 years from the survey to the construction of a new reactor being completed, the company said. Concerns about the safety of nuclear power plants are deep-rooted. KEPCO should continue to make meticulous efforts to gain the understanding of local communities. The Mihama nuclear power plant has three reactors. KEPCO has decided to decommission the No. 1 and No. 2 reactors, and the No. 3 reactor is currently in operation. KEPCO said it will consider constructing an 'advanced light-water reactor,' a next-generation nuclear reactor that is said to be very safe and to generate power very efficiently. KEPCO must thoroughly explain the safety of the new technology. After the Great East Japan Earthquake, the government stated that 'dependency on nuclear power generation will be lowered to the extent possible.' However, former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida approved the construction of new nuclear reactors in 2022, changing that policy drastically. Behind this policy shift is the recognition that it is essential to promote the development of data centers for artificial intelligence, which use vast amounts of electricity, in order to strengthen international competitiveness amid the advancement of digitalization. The government has also attached importance to supporting the manufacturing industry through this inexpensive electric power source and reducing the burden on household budgets. In its Strategic Energy Plan, which was approved at a Cabinet meeting in February this year, the government has indicated its policy to raise the ratio of nuclear power in electric power sources from 8.5% in fiscal 2023 to about 20% in fiscal 2040. This is equivalent to the electricity produced by about 30 nuclear reactors. There are currently 33 nuclear reactors in Japan, 14 of which have resumed their operations. Although it is possible for a nuclear reactor to operate for more than 60 years under certain conditions, the stable supply of electricity will be threatened if new reactors are not built. Other electric power companies, such as Kyushu Electric Power Co., will also need to move forward with considering the construction of new reactors. (From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 23, 2025)
The Mainichi
8 hours ago
- Business
- The Mainichi
Survey to start for 1st new nuclear reactor since Fukushima disaster
OSAKA (Kyodo) -- Kansai Electric Power Co. said Tuesday that it plans to begin a geological survey to replace a nuclear reactor on the premises of its Mihama nuclear power plant on the Sea of Japan coast, in what would be the first new reactor since the 2011 Fukushima disaster. Currently, the No. 3 unit is the only reactor in operation at the Mihama station in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, while the other two units are set to be decommissioned. No new reactor has been built in Japan since the building of the No. 3 unit at Hokkaido Electric Power Co.'s Tomari plant. The unit began operation in 2009. "We will conduct (the survey) while explaining to and seeking the cooperation of local residents," Kansai Electric President Nozomu Mori said at a press conference in Osaka. A senior official of Kansai Electric also visited the Fukui prefectural office, where he met Fukui Vice Gov. Yasuhiro Nakamura, who urged the utility to "carefully explain" its plan to local residents. The town of Mihama welcomed the decision, with an assembly member and urging that the reactor be built as soon as possible. Yuki Sakimoto, a managing director at a construction company in Mihama, said that while his firm does not receive orders related to nuclear power plants, he sees benefits to hosting one, including improvements in road infrastructure. "Since there are no other industries, (the town would) financially collapse without a nuclear power plant," Sakimoto said. Meanwhile, town assembly member Takeshi Komoto said it is "unthinkable to build a new" reactor while issues such as nuclear waste remain unresolved. In 2010, Kansai Electric announced a plan to replace an aging reactor at the power station and started a survey, but the process was halted due to the nuclear disaster triggered by a massive earthquake and tsunami that devastated northeastern Japan the following year. Public sentiment turned sour over the use of nuclear power as a national source of energy following the disaster, prompting the government to repeatedly say it was not considering building new reactors or replacing existing ones. But with demand for electricity in Japan expected to increase in the future, the government and power industry have been discussing the need for a new or expanded facility to ensure a stable power supply. The government signaled a return to nuclear energy in its revised basic energy plan released in February. Due to the strict safety standards introduced by the Nuclear Regulation Authority following the 2011 Fukushima disaster, the planned survey will likely have to begin from scratch. If the site is deemed suitable, Kansai Electric will need to draw up a basic design and submit it to regulators for approval before commencing construction work. The government is promoting the replacement of aging reactors with next-generation models that are deemed safer. Kansai Electric is collaborating with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and others to develop an advanced light-water reactor that is designed to be more resilient to natural disasters and terrorist attacks.
Japan Today
11 hours ago
- Business
- Japan Today
Survey to start for 1st new nuclear reactor since Fukushima disaster
Kansai Electric Power Co. said Tuesday that it plans to begin a geological survey to replace a nuclear reactor on the premises of its Mihama nuclear power plant on the Sea of Japan coast, in what would be the first new reactor since the 2011 Fukushima disaster. Currently, the No. 3 unit is the only reactor in operation at the Mihama station in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, while the other two units are set to be decommissioned. No new reactor has been built in Japan since the building of the No. 3 unit at Hokkaido Electric Power Co.'s Tomari plant. The unit began operation in 2009. "We will conduct (the survey) while explaining to and seeking the cooperation of local residents," Kansai Electric President Nozomu Mori said at a press conference in Osaka. A senior official of Kansai Electric also visited the Fukui prefectural office, where he met Fukui Vice Gov. Yasuhiro Nakamura, who urged the utility to "carefully explain" its plan to local residents. The town of Mihama welcomed the decision, with an assembly member and urging that the reactor be built as soon as possible. Yuki Sakimoto, a managing director at a construction company in Mihama, said that while his firm does not receive orders related to nuclear power plants, he sees benefits to hosting one, including improvements in road infrastructure. "Since there are no other industries, (the town would) financially collapse without a nuclear power plant," Sakimoto said. Meanwhile, town assembly member Takeshi Komoto said it is "unthinkable to build a new" reactor while issues such as nuclear waste remain unresolved. In 2010, Kansai Electric announced a plan to replace an aging reactor at the power station and started a survey, but the process was halted due to the nuclear disaster triggered by a massive earthquake and tsunami that devastated northeastern Japan the following year. Public sentiment turned sour over the use of nuclear power as a national source of energy following the disaster, prompting the government to repeatedly say it was not considering building new reactors or replacing existing ones. But with demand for electricity in Japan expected to increase in the future, the government and power industry have been discussing the need for a new or expanded facility to ensure a stable power supply. The government signaled a return to nuclear energy in its revised basic energy plan released in February. Due to the strict safety standards introduced by the Nuclear Regulation Authority following the 2011 Fukushima disaster, the planned survey will likely have to begin from scratch. If the site is deemed suitable, Kansai Electric will need to draw up a basic design and submit it to regulators for approval before commencing construction work. The government is promoting the replacement of aging reactors with next-generation models that are deemed safer. Kansai Electric is collaborating with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and others to develop an advanced light-water reactor that is designed to be more resilient to natural disasters and terrorist attacks. © KYODO
Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Japan looks at building first atomic reactor since Fukushima
Find out what's new on ST website and app. TOKYO - Kansai Electric Power Co. is looking into a plan to build Japan's first nuclear reactor since the country soured on the technology following the 2011 Fukushima disaster, the regional utility confirmed. The company will resume surveys for a potential new reactor at the Mihama Nuclear Power Plant in Fukui prefecture west of Tokyo, it said in a statement on July 22 . The move marks Japan's most significant step toward reviving atomic power since the Fukushima Dai-Ichi meltdowns prompted the closure of the nation's reactors. The government is backing nuclear energy to meet an expected rise in electricity demand from the artificial intelligence (AI) boom over the next decade, and public opinion has also become more favourable . 'Nuclear power should continue to be utilised into the future,' Kansai Electric President Nozomu Mori told reporters in Osaka. 'In a country like Japan, which lacks natural resources, the key question is how we can continue to deliver energy, particularly as we look to foster the growth of new industries.' Kansai Electric's plans, which were first reported in local media late on July 18 , sparked a surge in utility shares on July 22, as local markets reopened after a public holiday. The company itself rose as much as 5 per cent in Tokyo. Tokyo Electric Power Co. and Hokkaido Electric Power Co. both climbed as much as 6.7 per cent. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, a nuclear parts manufacturer, rallied as much as 6.2 per cent. While there is a variety of reactor design options, Mitsubishi Heavy's new model, the SRZ-1200, is the most 'realistic,' said Mr Hiroaki Kitaura, the company's chief manager for plant and maintenance engineering, during a press conference in Tokyo on July 22 . The company will conduct surveys at the Mihama power plant to possibly replace the number 1 unit, which is currently being decommissioned, he said. The study is expected to take 'several years,' Mr Kitaura explained, adding that it's undecided when the study will begin. The revival of nuclear power in Japan after Fukushima has been a long process. Fewer than half of the country's 33 operable reactors have gotten back online due to lengthy regulatory checks and upgrades, as well as local opposition. Outside of Japan, a renaissance in nuclear power has been underway for several years, as governments and companies, particularly in the tech sector, look for ways to meet clean energy targets. Microsoft is investing in the shuttered Three Mile Island nuclear plant in the US, while Amazon is backing a nuclear technology company. Japanese Trade Minister Yoji Muto declined to comment specifically on Kansai Electric's plans on July 22 . He said the government believes Japan will need to secure more carbon-free electricity, and will take necessary steps to encourage investment and strengthen the nuclear supply chain. BLOOMBERG
Asahi Shimbun
a day ago
- Business
- Asahi Shimbun
Kansai Electric to build new nuclear plant in Mihama
Kansai Electric Power Co. will build a new nuclear power plant in Mihama, Fukui Prefecture, the company announced on July 22. The new plant will have a next-generation advanced light water reactor, an improved version of a conventional light water reactor, KEPCO President Nozomu Mori said at a news conference. The company said it has decided to embark on the first step: a geological survey of its existing Mihama nuclear power plant and the land nearby. KEPCO was expected to notify the governments of Fukui Prefecture and Mihama town, where the current plant is located, by the end of the day. This is the first concrete move by a major electricity utility to build a nuclear power plant since the 2011 triple meltdowns at the Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. Mass evacuations and the difficult clean-up led to a surge of anti-nuclear sentiment, but under Prime Minister Fumio Kishida the government shifted toward allowing the construction of new nuclear power plants on a conditional basis. In February this year the government revised its basic energy plan, deleting a line that vowed to 'reduce dependence on nuclear power as much as possible.' That phrase was added after the Fukushima accident. Moreover, utilities have now secured a range of government support measures for the construction of nuclear power plants. Mori said the company sees strategic value in this. 'In resource-poor Japan, it is important that nuclear power continue to play its role in the future from the perspective of S plus 3E,' Mori told reporters at the company's headquarters in Osaka. The term 'S plus 3E' refers to safety, energy security, economic efficiency and the environment. 'We have come to the conclusion that we need to resume our voluntary site survey,' he said. The Mihama plant was KEPCO's first nuclear power plant. Its No. 1 reactor began operation in 1970, feeding some of its output to the Osaka Expo that year. By 2010, the No. 1 reactor was aging. KEPCO began a survey looking at the viability of rebuilding it but the survey was suspended a year later in the wake of the Fukushima disaster. In 2015, the reactor's fate was sealed when the decision was taken to decommission it. At the time, KEPCO said that the geology and topography at the Mihama plant would be examined in a study that would take about a year to complete. However, the Fukushima accident led to the creation of the Nuclear Regulation Authority and new safety standards. The regulations have become stricter, so the content and duration of the survey will be examined 'on a zero basis,' a source said. Construction of a new nuclear power plant is estimated to take 15 to 20 years. It will cost more than 1 trillion yen ($6.8 billion) per unit, including preliminary environmental impact studies. When the operating period and subsequent decommissioning work are factored in, the time horizon on such a project is about 100 years. As for reactor type, Mori said it will be an advanced light water reactor. In September 2022, KEPCO teamed with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and three major electric power companies to jointly develop an advanced light water reactor called the SRZ-1200, with the aim of commercializing it in the mid-2030s. Based on lessons learned from the Fukushima accident, the reactor will be equipped with a device called a core catcher, which would contain and cool the fuel in the event of a meltdown. Meanwhile, the nuclear power sector is also watching the plans of Kyushu Electric Power Co., which owns the Genkai and Sendai nuclear power plants. In May, the company included 'consideration of the development and installation of next-generation advanced reactors' in its management vision for the period to 2035.
