ID :
195267
Fri, 07/15/2011 - 19:25
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/195267
The shortlink copeid
Utilities to report safety analysis on all nuclear plants by year-end
TOKYO, July 15 Kyodo -
Utilities would be asked to report to the nuclear regulatory agency by the end of the year their assessments on the safety of all of their nuclear power plants, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said Friday.
The agency showed the plan in a draft format for implementing two-stage ''stress tests'' in the wake of the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi complex.
Another oversight body, the Nuclear Safety Commission, basically approved the plan, which is aimed at studying the extent to which key installations would be able to withstand larger-than-expected damage caused by natural disasters.
But the commission asked for the agency to rewrite the draft as it found some parts ''intricate'' for nonprofessionals.
The first-stage assessment would be conducted on nuclear reactors idled for regular checks so the government can decide whether to allow a restart, while all nuclear power plants are subject to undergo the second-stage assessment which is to be more comprehensive.
According to the plan, the first-stage assessment would be conducted on reactors that are prepared to reactivate, but the nuclear safety agency did not set a timeline for utilities to report the outcome of their analysis.
''The utilities are to be the ones that pull the trigger (of the process),'' an agency official said, adding that how long it would take the agency to check the utilities' analysis depends on the content of the report.
None of the reactors undergoing periodic checkups has been able to restart after the nuclear crisis heightened public concerns on the safety of nuclear power. The explanation by agency officials also gave no clues on when the country would actually see the first case of such a restart.
A utility report on the outcome of its safety analysis would not only be evaluated by the agency but would also be examined by the commission. Consent from local municipalities hosting reactors would also be needed to actually restart reactors.
Under the plan, the utilities are asked to look into situations such as earthquakes or tsunami hitting a reactor separately as well as in combination, as seen in March at the Fukushima power plant.
The Japanese government is working out the format for the new safety assessments, taking after the stress tests conducted by the European Union.
Utilities would be asked to report to the nuclear regulatory agency by the end of the year their assessments on the safety of all of their nuclear power plants, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said Friday.
The agency showed the plan in a draft format for implementing two-stage ''stress tests'' in the wake of the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi complex.
Another oversight body, the Nuclear Safety Commission, basically approved the plan, which is aimed at studying the extent to which key installations would be able to withstand larger-than-expected damage caused by natural disasters.
But the commission asked for the agency to rewrite the draft as it found some parts ''intricate'' for nonprofessionals.
The first-stage assessment would be conducted on nuclear reactors idled for regular checks so the government can decide whether to allow a restart, while all nuclear power plants are subject to undergo the second-stage assessment which is to be more comprehensive.
According to the plan, the first-stage assessment would be conducted on reactors that are prepared to reactivate, but the nuclear safety agency did not set a timeline for utilities to report the outcome of their analysis.
''The utilities are to be the ones that pull the trigger (of the process),'' an agency official said, adding that how long it would take the agency to check the utilities' analysis depends on the content of the report.
None of the reactors undergoing periodic checkups has been able to restart after the nuclear crisis heightened public concerns on the safety of nuclear power. The explanation by agency officials also gave no clues on when the country would actually see the first case of such a restart.
A utility report on the outcome of its safety analysis would not only be evaluated by the agency but would also be examined by the commission. Consent from local municipalities hosting reactors would also be needed to actually restart reactors.
Under the plan, the utilities are asked to look into situations such as earthquakes or tsunami hitting a reactor separately as well as in combination, as seen in March at the Fukushima power plant.
The Japanese government is working out the format for the new safety assessments, taking after the stress tests conducted by the European Union.
