Chugoku Electric Applies for Shimane-3 Safety Examination: Second for a Reactor under Construction after Ohma NPP

On August 10, the Chugoku Electric Power Co. filed an application with Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) for examination of its Shimane-3 Nuclear Power Plant (NPP, 1,373MWe, ABWR) for compatibility with the country’s new regulatory standards. Construction work began on the unit more than a decade ago, in December 2005.

In July 2009, the reactor pressure vessel was installed, with Mayor Masataka Matsuura of Matsue City looking on. Construction had continued to progress toward expected commissioning in December 2011. While 93.6 percent of the work had been completed as of April 30, 2011, construction was suspended, and plans revised, in the wake of the giant earthquake that occurred in March 11 of that year. In 2014, the Electric Power Development Co. (EPDC, or J-Power) filed an application for an examination for its Ohma NPP, which was then also under construction. Shimane-3 is thus the second such NPP in the same situation. In May 2018, prior to submitting the application to the NRA, Chugoku Electric, in accordance with its safety agreements with Shimane Prefecture and Matsue City, submitted reques...more

International Forum on Decommissioning Fukushima Daiichi Highlights Remotely-Operated Systems

On August 5 and 6, an international forum was held in Fukushima Prefecture, as part of ongoing efforts in the decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants.

Domestic and foreign experts and specialists gathered at the forum to share information on available technology, as well as to engage in dialogues with residents of the local community. Sponsored by the Nuclear Damage Compensation and Decommissioning Facilitation Corporation (NDF), whose president is Hajimu Yamana, it was the third such forum. On the first day, at the Naraha Community Center in Naraha Town, Associate Professor Hiroshi Kainuma of the Kinugasa Research Organization at Ritsumeikan University, who has been active in Fukushima reconstruction activities, served as facilitator in a session designed to allow local people to “know, talk and question.” The session was included in the program on account of the favorable experience of the dialogue session at the previous forum held...more

J-Village Stadium to Revert to Original Role as Soccer Training Center, Having Contributed to the Stabilization of Fukushima Daiichi

Improvements have been made to the working environment at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants, whose decommissioning is proceeding strategically according to the so-called mid-to-long-term roadmap. When the accident occurred at the NPPs 7 years ago, the initial efforts to bring it under control involved primarily stabilizing the reactors and suppressing the emission of radioactive materials.

On July 28, the J-Village Stadium in Naraha Town, Fukushima Prefecture, which served as the base for the NPPs-related activities, is to be restored to its original role as Japan’s first national soccer training center. During the past seven years, as the site of contamination examinations and worker decontamination, it was where the workers put on radiation protection equipment and took it off, as well as where dosimeters were distributed and returned. J-Village, originally established as the national soccer training center in 1997, once served as the venue for matches between top domestic and foreign teams. It will again assume that role, with the addition of all-weather practice fields (to open next spring) and a new hotel. The aim is to go beyond the promotion of soccer and sports, a...more

Japan-IAEA Joint Nuclear Energy Management School Opens for 2018, Developing Next Generation of Young Professionals

On July 17, this year’s Japan-IAEA Joint Nuclear Energy Management (NEM) School opened at the University of Tokyo. The school is designed to foster nuclear management capabilities—an understanding of such areas as nuclear policies and regulations, as well as the planning and managing of projects—among the next generation of young professionals in Japan and elsewhere. It is held annually under the leadership of Japan, co-sponsored by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

This year, 26 students are participating from thirteen countries: Bangladesh, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Czechia (Czech Republic), Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam and Japan. 8 of the total are Japanese. The program will run for about three weeks, lasting until August 2. Until July 20, the initial stage will primarily comprise lectures related to energy strategy, nuclear nonproliferation, safety culture and decommissioning. From July 23 through 27, then, the group will move to Fukushima for technical tours of the Fukushima Daiichi and Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Plants and the Naraha Remote Technology Development Center in Naraha Town. Participants will also meet with students at the National Institute of Technology, Fukushima College. On Augus...more

Recent News

16 August, 2018

Chugoku Electric Applies for Shimane-3 Safety Examination: Second for a Reactor under Construction after Ohma NPP

16 August, 2018

International Forum on Decommissioning Fukushima Daiichi Highlights Remotely-Operated Systems

26 July, 2018

J-Village Stadium to Revert to Original Role as Soccer Training Center, Having Contributed to the Stabilization of Fukushima Daiichi

20 July, 2018

Japan-IAEA Joint Nuclear Energy Management School Opens for 2018, Developing Next Generation of Young Professionals

20 July, 2018

ANRE to Hold Explanatory Meetings and Public Hearings on Handling of Tritium Water

6 July, 2018

NRA Draft Report: Tokai-2 NPP Complies with New Regulatory Standards

6 July, 2018

Strategic Energy Plan Approved by Cabinet: FEPC Chairman Calls It “Key Policy of the Nation”

4 July, 2018

Court of Second Instance Approves Operation of Ohi NPPs

29 June, 2018

JAIF President Personally Sad to See Fukushima Daini Go

25 June, 2018

LDP Diet Caucus Delivers Strategic Energy Plan Proposal to METI Minister, Calling for Early NPP Restarts and New NPP Construction