Japan's Tomari 3 nuclear reactor clears safety review, moves closer to restart

Japan’s
Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) has confirmed that Unit 3 at the
Tomari nuclear power station in Hokkaido meets the country’s
revised safety standards, marking a significant step toward
resuming operations, World Nuclear News reports. Operated
by Hokkaido Electric Power Company (EPC), the unit—Japan’s most
recent addition to its reactor fleet—has been offline since 2012,
along with Units 1 and 2.

Following
the Fukushima Daiichi disaster in 2011, Japan introduced more
stringent safety requirements. Hokkaido EPC applied in July 2013
for Tomari 3 to be assessed under these new standards. The NRA
approved a draft report in April this year, and after a public
consultation period, has now issued a formal permit allowing
changes to the reactor installation. Tomari 3 becomes the 18th
reactor in the country to clear this screening process.

In
preparation, the company has raised its tsunami protection
measures, agreeing to construct a 19-metre-high seawall, an
increase from the originally planned 16.5 metres. The barrier is
expected to be completed by early 2027. Earthquake resistance has
also been upgraded, with seismic tolerance increased from 550 to
693 gals.

Despite
regulatory approval, local government consent is still required
before operations can resume. A separate legal challenge remains
unresolved, with an appeal underway after a 2022 court ruling
ordered an injunction against restarting all three Tomari units,
citing safety concerns from over 1,200 residents. The NRA’s safety
review of Tomari Units 1 and 2 continues.