2 reactors in Hokkaido, Fukui running in limbo for over month

TOKYO (Kyodo) - Two reactors at nuclear power plants in Hokkaido and Fukui Prefecture have been in limbo in the final phase of their regular checkups in which they generate power as usual for tests for over a month longer than planned due to the nuclear crisis in Fukushima.
The situations at the Tomari plant in Hokkaido and the Oi plant in Fukui reflect heightened safety concerns about nuclear power, but some critics question the relevance of them supplying electricity before completing the legally mandated checkup.
The Tomari's No. 3 reactor and the Oi's No. 1 reactor were rebooted on March 7 and 10, respectively, before the March 11 earthquake and tsunami triggered the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, and had both been due to shift to commercial service in early April.
In the last phase of checkup, which is usually over in about a month, reactors generate the usual amounts of power for final checks for any irregularities before resuming commercial operation.
After the crisis, however, the government's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency required nuclear plant operators to take emergency safety measures such as securing a backup power source.
In addition to time consumed to take such steps, the plant operators Hokkaido Electric Power Co. and Kansai Electric Power Co. said they are taking into account concerns among local people.
A nuclear safety agency official has said there is no problem in commencing commercial operation of the reactors as long as regular checkups are completed.
But Hideyuki Ban, a co-representative of the nonprofit organization Citizens' Nuclear Information Center, said the reactors should be stopped until their safety is assured under enhanced standards the government is expected to draw up against earthquakes and tsunami.
''Rather than continuing the test operation in a wait-and-see attitude, the reactors should be stopped until they are confirmed to fulfill the new standards,'' he said.