Japan reactors' stress test status
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The ongoing crisis at the firm's Fukushima Daiichi plant, the world's worst nuclear disaster in the 25 years since Chernobyl, has heightened public anxiety and resulted in stricter safety standards for restarting reactors closed for regular maintenance.
Only a fifth of Japan's total nuclear power capacity is in use, with just 11 of the country's 54 reactors now operating.
The stress tests will involve simulations based on existing data to gauge reactors' resilience to earthquakes, tsunami and other such events, as well as to a loss of electricity and cooling systems.
First-stage tests are targeted at reactors currently halted due to regular checks and will assess tolerance for severe earthquakes and other extreme events.
Second-stage tests will make a comprehensive safety assessment of all Japan's reactors, except for the crisis-hit Fukushima facility. Utilities will go beyond existing figures and calculate the limits at which reactors would start to see serious damage to their fuel cores.
Utilities must conduct the stress tests, and submit their own assessment to the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA), Japan's nuclear watchdog, as well as to the Nuclear Safety Commission of Japan, an independent entity which monitors nuclear agencies including NISA.
Japan's new prime minister, Yoshihiko Noda, appears to be more pragmatic than his predecessor about restarting reactors if they meet the new safety requirements.
Following is a summary of the current status of the utilities' stress tests. Okinawa Electric Power is excluded as it does not operate any nuclear plants.
For a related ANALYSIS, click:
Tokyo Electric Power Co
- The company operates seven reactors at its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, with three shut for unplanned maintenance and two currently operational. The No. 1 and No. 7 reactors will undergo first-stage stress tests along with the regular maintenance work, a company official said. The official did not say how long the maintenance would last. The utility has a total of 17 reactors at three nuclear plants.
Kansai Electric Power Co
- The company says the first phase of stress tests are underway at four reactors: its 340-megawatt Mihama No.1 unit, its 826 MW Mihama No.3 unit, its 1,180 MW Ohi No.3 unit and its 826 MW Takahama No.1 unit. The firm has 11 reactors at three nuclear plants.
The utility has not yet decided when it will conduct second-stage tests.
Chubu Electric Power C
The company says no stress tests are planned at its sole Hamaoka nuclear plant as it will be shut for at least a couple of years until the utility completes additional safety measures.
Tohoku Electric Power Co
- The firm says the first phase of stress tests are underway at its 1,100 MW Higashidori No.1 unit. Tohoku has four reactors at two nuclear plants.
- The utility has not yet decided when to conduct second-stage tests.
Kyushu Electric Power Co
- The company says the first-phase of stress tests have started at four reactors: its 559 MW Genkai No.2 unit, its 1,180 MW Genkai No.3 unit, its 890 MW Sendai No.1 unit and its 890 MW Sendai No.2 unit. It has six reactors at two nuclear plants.
Chugoku Electric Power Co
The utility has not started first-stage stress tests at its 460 MW No. 1 Shimane reactor, shut for maintenance since November last year. Its other 820 MW No. 2 Shimane reactor has been online since December last year.
The firm began the first-stage of stress tests in August at its 1,206 MW No. 2 Shika reactor, which has been shut for maintenance since March. It has not set a timetable for submission of its report.
It has not scheduled first-stage tests at its 540 MW No. 1 Shika reactor.
It has no timetable for second-stage tests.
Shikoku Electric Power Co
The company started first-stage stress tests at its 890 MW No. 3 Ikata reactor in late July, and hopes to submit a report by the end of September. The reactor has been in maintenance since April.
Its two other reactors - the 566 MW No. 1 Ikata and 566 MW No. 2 Ikata -- have been online since July and November last year respectively.
It expects to begin second-stage stress tests when the first-round report is finished.
Hokkaido Electric Power Co
Hokkaido had planned to submit a report on a first-round of stress tests by the end of August for its 579 MW No. 1 Tomari reactor, which has been in maintenance since April. But this was postponed after it had to submit a separate report on quake-resilience.
Its 579 MW No. 2 Tomari reactor entered maintenance in August, while its 912 MW No. 3 Tomari reactor has been online since March.
It has not started second-stage tests.
Japan Atomic Power
All three reactors are currently under maintenance but it has not yet started the first-stage stress tests. It plans to conduct tests as soon as it becomes clearer which reactors will be started first.
Its 357 MW No. 1 Tsuruga reactor went into maintenance in January, followed by the 1,160 MW No. 2 Tsuruga in early May and the 1,100 MW No. 1 Tokai Daini in late May.
It has not started second-phase stress tests.