The operator of the Mihama nuclear power plant on the Sea of Japan coast is considering resuming geological surveys for the construction of a new plant. If realized, a new reactor would be the first of its kind in Japan since the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident.
Kansai Electric Power Company began conducting such surveys on the plant’s premises in Fukui Prefecture, central Japan, in 2010. But the work was suspended after the 2011 accident at the Fukushima plant.
Sources say the operator is planning to make an announcement soon about the resumption and explain it to prefectural and other authorities.
The company says it is about time to consider building a new plant, but that nothing has been decided at this point.
The Mihama plant scrapped its No.1 and No.2 nuclear reactors.
The Japanese government had not planned to increase the number of nuclear power plants, but now seeks to maximize the use of nuclear power.
The country’s basic energy plan laid out in February promotes the development of next-generation reactors within the sites of operators with nuclear plants set to be decommissioned.
AloJapan.com