10 September, 2019
Kyushu Electric Power Files Decommissioning Plan for Genkai-2 and Seeks Change to Genkai-1 Plan, with Work on Both to Proceed Simultaneously
On September 3, the Kyushu Electric Power Co. filed an application with the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) of Japan for approval of its plan to decommission its Genkai-2 Nuclear Power Plant (PWR, 559MWe). The power company also requested preliminary talks with Saga Prefecture and Genkai Town under nuclear safety agreements with each of them.
While making the application for Genkai-2, Kyushu Electric Power also asked the NRA to approve a change to its decommissioning plan for Genkai-1, the work on which is already underway. It seeks to revise its processes in that way to take advantage of the benefits accrued from carrying out work on the two units at the same time.
However, that move will push back the completion date for Unit 1 eleven years, with the decommissioning work on both units now slated to end in 2054.
The entire decommissioning process for Genkai-2 is divided into four stages, as follows:
Preparing for dismantling.
Dismantling and removing facilities and equipment in the area surrounding the reactor.
Dismantling and removing the reactor itself.
Dismantling and removing the reactor building and ot...more
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4 September, 2019
White Paper on Nuclear Energy Features Decommissioning, Accumulation of Technology as “Great Assets” for the Future
On September 2, the Japan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) finalized its White Paper on Nuclear Energy 2018, which was distributed to Cabinet members one day later, at a meeting held on September 3.
The White Paper focuses on the decommissioning and management of nuclear facilities. Domestically, some 24 nuclear reactors in Japan, including Units 1 to 6 at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants, are either undergoing decommissioning or are slated to be decommissioned. The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has announced a plan to decommission about half of its nuclear R&D facilities.
With decommissioning thus moving to the forefront across the board, the document introduces leading examples in other countries as positive lessons from which Japan can learn.
Stating that by removing nuclear fuel and radioactive materials, the risks and burdens of managing them are reduced, the document reiterates the positioning of decommissioning in the overall utilization of nuclear power...more
