Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc. announced that it will carry out "special inspections" necessary for operating the Kawauchi nuclear power plant in Kagoshima prefecture for more than 40 years from the 18th of this month.
The first unit of the Kawauchi nuclear power plant will be in operation 40 years after 3 years.
After the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, the operation period of the nuclear power plant is limited to 40 years in principle, and at the Kawauchi nuclear power plant,
▽ Unit 1 will be
in
operation
in July 2024 and
▽ Unit 2 will be in
operation
in November 2025 for
40 years.
Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc. announced that it will carry out a "special inspection" from the 18th of this month to extend the operation of Unit 1 for up to 20 years beyond 40 years.
The inspection is expected to take at least half a year, and the deterioration of concrete in the reactor and building will be investigated in detail using ultrasonic waves and electric current.
To extend the operation, it is necessary to carry out a "special inspection" and obtain national approval, and Kyushu Electric Power is expected to apply again by July next year, and the "special inspection" of Unit 2 will also start from the end of February next year. I plan to start.
Of the nuclear power plants in Japan, the ones that have obtained the national approval required to operate for more than 40 years are Mihama Nuclear Power Plant Unit 3 and Takahama Nuclear Power Plant Units 1 and 2 in Fukui Prefecture, and Tokai No. 2 Nuclear Power Plant in Ibaraki Prefecture. A total of four units, of which Mihama Nuclear Power Plant Unit 3 was restarted in June.