Japan's Tsuruga 1 Nuclear Power Plant Granted 6-Year Operating Life Extension

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Another nuclear power plant has received an extension to its operating life amid a spate of similar actions worldwide. The Japan Atomic Power Company (Japco) (Tokyo, Japan) has received approval from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) that allows the Tsuruga 1 nuclear power plant to continue operating beyond its scheduled closure date in 2010.

In 2002, Japco planned for the Tsuruga 1 plant to be shut down in 2010, mainly for economic reasons. However, Japco claimed at the time that there were no technical reasons why the plant could not continue to operate for a 60-year period.

Japco prepared an assessment for METI that showed that the reactor, which had been commissioned in March 1970, could operate safely beyond its closure date. In February this year, Japco proposed that the closure of the 357-MW boiling-water reactor (BWR), which was Japan's first light-water reactor, be delayed for an undetermined time period.

Japco then amended its long-term maintenance plan for the reactor. METI approved the amendment last month, following which Japco announced that Tsuruga 1 would continue operating until 2016, at which time the proposed Tsuruga 3 plant is scheduled to begin operations.

In August this year, the American company PSEG Nuclear, a member of Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (NYSE:PEG) (Newark, New Jersey), applied to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for 20-year extensions to the operating licenses for its Salem and Hope Creek nuclear power plants in New Jersey.

For related news item, see August 27, 2009, article - PSEG Nuclear Applies for 20-Year License Extension for Salem, Hope Creek Nuclear Plants.

Construction of the 116-MW Tsuruga 2 pressurized-water reactor (PWR) commenced in April 1982, and the plant became operational in February 1987. In order to improve safety and environmental protection, Tsuruga 2 was equipped with a pre-stressed concrete containment vessel (PCCV), specifically designed to resist earthquakes.

In March 2004, Japco applied to METI for permission to build the Tsuruga 3 and 4 nuclear power stations, each of which is planned to have an operating capacity of 1,538 MW and be of the advanced pressurized-water reactor type. METI and local authorities granted approval in June 2004, and construction commenced in early July the same year.

Construction of units 3 and 4 at Tsuruga was delayed at the end of 2006 for a two-year period, following the introduction of governmental earthquake resistance guidelines that caused a revision of construction regulations. Work on both the units is now set to re-commence in October 2010, leading to Tsuruga 3 commencing operations in March 2016 and unit 4 coming online a year later in March 2017.

Japco is owned by a consortium of Japan's leading electric utilities, with Tokyo Electric Power Company Incorporated (TYO:9501) (Tokyo, Japan) holding the largest share at 28.23% and Kansai Electric Power Company Incorporated (TYO:9503) (Osaka, Japan) holding a stake of 18.54%. Others in the consortium are Chubu Electric Power Company Incorporated (TYO:9502) (Nagoya, Japan) with a stake of 15.12%, Hokuriku Electric Power Company (TYO:9505) (Toyama, Japan) with a stake of 13.05%, Tohoku Electric Power Company Incorporated (TYO:9506) (Chiyoda, Japan) with a stake of 6.12%, and Electric Power Development Company Limited (TYO:9513) (Tokyo, Japan) holding a stake of 5.37%.

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