![]() Unlike PWRs, BWRs require a filtered containment venting (FCV) system. The ruling affects at least 10 reactors, and has resulted in operating reactors temporarily shutting down. A month earlier, the NRA announced it would not extend deadlines for utilities building facilities to meet new anti-terrorism guidelines. All the affected reactors had previously cleared compatibility examinations based on new regulatory standards. Most recently, in May 2019, the NRA ordered Kansai Electric Power to 'backfit' seven of its reactors based on a new analysis of the potential eruption of a dormant volcano, Mt. Restarts have proceeded at a slower rate than previously anticipated for a number of reasons, including changing regulatory requirements. ![]() For the five reactors that have started since, the inspections took an average of over 200 days. The NRA pre-operational inspections, with reference to the engineering work programme, took an average of 137 days for the five reactors that had restarted by end 2016. Approval of operational management system and safety programmes, and engineering work programme.Approval of plan for construction works.Permission for design change in reactor installation licence.Construction plan application by operator.In rulemaking, the NRA commissioners referred to the guidelines of the IAEA, Finland, France and the USA, as well as the former NISA July 2011 stress test rules and provisional 30-point measures, issued in April 2012, that were applied to the restarts of Ohi 3&4.Īpart from local government consent, the NRA procedures are: The assessment would be based on safety guidelines in the New Regulatory Requirements formulated by the NRA in July 2013 after public consultation. In October 2012 the new Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA), which had taken over from the Nuclear & Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) and the Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC), announced that henceforth nuclear power plant restart reviews would comprise both a safety assessment by the NRA and the briefing of affected local governments by the operators. Pre-service inspections may be carried out upon receipt of the detailed design from a utility that is reviewed in stage 2 but typically take place after all three stages of review have been completed. A description of each stage is provided on the NRA website. The NRA review process is split into three parts, but these are typically carried out in parallel. OP = operable UC = under construction UR = under review NA = not applied CO = complete However, in 2013 the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) established new regulatory requirements, and just 10 reactors have since received clearance from the regulator to restart. Japan has 33 nuclear power reactors classed as operable. There were plans to increase this to 41% by 2017, and 50% by 2030. The government's stated aim is for nuclear power to provide 20-22% of electricity by 2030. Earlier in 2011, nuclear energy had accounted for almost 30% of the country's total electricity production (29% in 2009), from 47.5 GWe of capacity (net) to March 2011, and 44.6 GWe (net) from then. The balance between this populist sentiment and the continuation of reliable and affordable electricity supplies is being worked out politically. ![]() However, following the tsunami which killed 19,000 people and which triggered the Fukushima nuclear accident (which killed no-one) in March 2011, public sentiment shifted markedly so that there were widespread public protests calling for nuclear power to be abandoned. Data for year 2019.ĭespite being the only country to have suffered the devastating effects of nuclear weapons in wartime, with over 100,000 deaths, Japan embraced the peaceful use of nuclear technology to provide a substantial portion of its electricity. Source: International Energy Agency and the World Bank. * The fossil fuels used to generate in excess of 70% of Japan's electricity are imported. Import/export balance: Zero imports and exports.*
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