ID :
201738
Tue, 08/16/2011 - 22:19
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/201738
The shortlink copeid
Hokkaido governor seeks commercial operation of Tomari reactor+
SAPPORO, Aug. 16 Kyodo -
Hokkaido Gov. Harumi Takahashi on Tuesday sought approval from the prefectural assembly for resuming commercial operation of the No. 3 reactor at the Tomari nuclear power plant in Hokkaido.
Reaching a consensus on the issue among the assembly and other local governments concerned would clear the way for the industry ministry to issue a certificate for the completion of the reactor's regular inspection, which has continued for an unusually long period of five months amid the nuclear crisis in Fukushima Prefecture. The reactor would then move to commercial operation.
The reactor is already generating electricity at full capacity under what is known as an ''adjustment operation'' in the final phase of the checkup, so there will be effectively no difference in terms of electricity output when it shifts to commercial operation.
Still the local government has taken a cautious stance about giving the go-ahead to commercial operation, apparently because no other nuclear reactors in the country have restarted since the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi complex erupted in March, heightening public concerns about the safety of nuclear power generation.
The No. 3 reactor began undergoing a regular inspection in January and started the adjustment operation on March 7, before the March 11 outbreak of the crisis.
The checks were supposed to end in early April, but Hokkaido Electric Power Co. applied for the final test of the inspection process only recently because it had to enhance its safety measures in response to the nuclear crisis.
The final test ended last Wednesday, with the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, which is under the wing of the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry, confirming that there are no problems with the reactor.
Nuclear reactors suspended for regular checkups need to undergo certain ''stress tests'' before restarting operations, but the government has said that the case of the Tomari reactor is not considered a ''restart'' because the reactor is already activated.
Hokkaido Gov. Harumi Takahashi on Tuesday sought approval from the prefectural assembly for resuming commercial operation of the No. 3 reactor at the Tomari nuclear power plant in Hokkaido.
Reaching a consensus on the issue among the assembly and other local governments concerned would clear the way for the industry ministry to issue a certificate for the completion of the reactor's regular inspection, which has continued for an unusually long period of five months amid the nuclear crisis in Fukushima Prefecture. The reactor would then move to commercial operation.
The reactor is already generating electricity at full capacity under what is known as an ''adjustment operation'' in the final phase of the checkup, so there will be effectively no difference in terms of electricity output when it shifts to commercial operation.
Still the local government has taken a cautious stance about giving the go-ahead to commercial operation, apparently because no other nuclear reactors in the country have restarted since the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi complex erupted in March, heightening public concerns about the safety of nuclear power generation.
The No. 3 reactor began undergoing a regular inspection in January and started the adjustment operation on March 7, before the March 11 outbreak of the crisis.
The checks were supposed to end in early April, but Hokkaido Electric Power Co. applied for the final test of the inspection process only recently because it had to enhance its safety measures in response to the nuclear crisis.
The final test ended last Wednesday, with the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, which is under the wing of the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry, confirming that there are no problems with the reactor.
Nuclear reactors suspended for regular checkups need to undergo certain ''stress tests'' before restarting operations, but the government has said that the case of the Tomari reactor is not considered a ''restart'' because the reactor is already activated.
