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Released July 09, 2015 | SUGAR LAND
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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Kyushu Electric Power Company Incorporated (TSE:9508) (Fukuoka, Japan) began refueling the No. 1 Nuclear Reactor at Sendai Nuclear Power Plant (Satsumasendai, Kagoshima) on Tuesday. The company plans to load all 157 fuel rods through July 10. The refueling is another step toward returning a nuclear power station online in the wake of the Fukushima disaster.
Sendai Nuclear Power Plant will the first to reach the final restart stage since new tsunami and earthquake safety standards were put in place. Kyushu Electric completed a pre-service inspection before the reloading had begun.
Satoru Kojou, plant manager of Sendai Nuclear Power Plant, said: "This is a plant that has been shut down for four years. So, we would like conduct the reloading and process toward restart very carefully and thoroughly."
The fuel rods are stored in a pool next to the reactors. The rods will be moved by crane one at a time. The around-the-clock operation is expected to be completed by July 10, followed by inspections of all the units. Kyushu Electric plans to put No. 1 Reactor on line by mid-August. The unit will be fully operational by mid-September at the earliest.
Sendai Nuclear Power Plant has two reactors, each of which generate 890 megawatts (MW). The No. 1 Reactor started operations in 1984, and the No. 2 Reactor started in 1985.
The nuclear plant has been offline since May 2011 in the aftermath of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. Kyushu Electric had completed removal of the fuel rods at the end of January 2013.
Kyushu Electric plans to reload only No. 1 Reactor at this time. The company is still looking at construction of safety enhancements at the Sendai facility.
Japan's Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA) will continue with its inspections, even after the fuel rods are all loaded. Any problems that are uncovered during these inspections could lead to a delay in the restart and operations for commercial use.
As of Tuesday, safety reviews were being sought for 25 reactors belonging to 15 nuclear power plants. The Sendai Nuclear Power Plant was the first to pass safety inspection under Japan's new nuclear regulations. At least 10 nuclear reactors at five nuclear power plants are next in line to become operational.
Nuclear reactors that currently are nearing the restart phase include the Nos. 3 and 4 reactors at Takahama Nuclear Power Plant (Takahama, Fukui), which is operated by Kansai Electric Power Company Incorporated (TSE:9503) (Osaka, Japan). But in April, Fukui District Court made a ruling that will halt the restart of the two reactors if the ruling isn't overturned.
The No. 3 Reactor at Ikata Nuclear Power Plant, operated by Shikoku Electric Power Company Incorporated (TSE:9507) (Takamatsu, Kagawa), is said to be very close to passing its safety review and getting an all-clear sign by the NRA.
The Nos. 3 and 4 reactors at Oi Nuclear Power Plant (Oi, Fukui), which is operated by Kansai Electric, have been deemed by the NRA to be within acceptable tsunami and earthquake safety limits, as has the Genkai Nuclear Power Plant (Genkai, Saga). However, a court has ordered Kansai Electric not to restart the Nos. 3 and 4 Oi Nuclear Power Plant reactors. The order is being contested.
Also, there seems to be no end in sight for completion of earthquake and tsunami safety reviews for the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 reactors at the Tomari Nuclear Power Plant (Tomari, Hokkaido), which is operated by Hokaido Electric Power Company Incorporated (TSE:9509) (Sapporo, Hokkaido).
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, five offices in North America and 10 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities.
Sendai Nuclear Power Plant will the first to reach the final restart stage since new tsunami and earthquake safety standards were put in place. Kyushu Electric completed a pre-service inspection before the reloading had begun.
Satoru Kojou, plant manager of Sendai Nuclear Power Plant, said: "This is a plant that has been shut down for four years. So, we would like conduct the reloading and process toward restart very carefully and thoroughly."
The fuel rods are stored in a pool next to the reactors. The rods will be moved by crane one at a time. The around-the-clock operation is expected to be completed by July 10, followed by inspections of all the units. Kyushu Electric plans to put No. 1 Reactor on line by mid-August. The unit will be fully operational by mid-September at the earliest.
Sendai Nuclear Power Plant has two reactors, each of which generate 890 megawatts (MW). The No. 1 Reactor started operations in 1984, and the No. 2 Reactor started in 1985.
The nuclear plant has been offline since May 2011 in the aftermath of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. Kyushu Electric had completed removal of the fuel rods at the end of January 2013.
Kyushu Electric plans to reload only No. 1 Reactor at this time. The company is still looking at construction of safety enhancements at the Sendai facility.
Japan's Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA) will continue with its inspections, even after the fuel rods are all loaded. Any problems that are uncovered during these inspections could lead to a delay in the restart and operations for commercial use.
As of Tuesday, safety reviews were being sought for 25 reactors belonging to 15 nuclear power plants. The Sendai Nuclear Power Plant was the first to pass safety inspection under Japan's new nuclear regulations. At least 10 nuclear reactors at five nuclear power plants are next in line to become operational.
Nuclear reactors that currently are nearing the restart phase include the Nos. 3 and 4 reactors at Takahama Nuclear Power Plant (Takahama, Fukui), which is operated by Kansai Electric Power Company Incorporated (TSE:9503) (Osaka, Japan). But in April, Fukui District Court made a ruling that will halt the restart of the two reactors if the ruling isn't overturned.
The No. 3 Reactor at Ikata Nuclear Power Plant, operated by Shikoku Electric Power Company Incorporated (TSE:9507) (Takamatsu, Kagawa), is said to be very close to passing its safety review and getting an all-clear sign by the NRA.
The Nos. 3 and 4 reactors at Oi Nuclear Power Plant (Oi, Fukui), which is operated by Kansai Electric, have been deemed by the NRA to be within acceptable tsunami and earthquake safety limits, as has the Genkai Nuclear Power Plant (Genkai, Saga). However, a court has ordered Kansai Electric not to restart the Nos. 3 and 4 Oi Nuclear Power Plant reactors. The order is being contested.
Also, there seems to be no end in sight for completion of earthquake and tsunami safety reviews for the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 reactors at the Tomari Nuclear Power Plant (Tomari, Hokkaido), which is operated by Hokaido Electric Power Company Incorporated (TSE:9509) (Sapporo, Hokkaido).
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, five offices in North America and 10 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities.
