As recommended by experts, the power company intends to incorporate measures required for Unit 3’s restart into explanatory materials aimed at the public and then publish them. Public comments on the NRA’s draft review report are being accepted until May 30.
During the panel meeting, the power company addressed earlier requests from experts to enhance explanatory materials targeted at Hokkaido residents. The explanations, significantly improved for clarity and comprehensiveness, cover several key topics, as follows.
- the reference tsunami
- anti-tsunami design policies
- assessments of foundational geology and slope stability around the facility
- severe accident response facilities
However, some panelists called for even deeper insights and clarity on specific issues, including the following:
- tsunami exceedance probabilities
- reactor power suppression mechanisms using gravity-driven control rod insertion and borated water
- details of compliance measures related to regulatory reviews
Currently, Hokkaido is preparing for several large-scale industrial projects, including the construction of a new plant aimed at mass-producing next-generation semiconductors and the establishment of one of the largest data centers in Japan.
On account of those developments, electricity demand in the Hokkaido area (at transmission end) is projected to rise 12.6% in a decade, up from an estimated 29.214 TWh in FY2024 (April 2024 to March 2025) to 32.895 TWh by FY2034 (April 2034 to March 2035), according to the latest demand forecast report published by the Organization for Cross-regional Coordination of Transmission Operators (OCCTO) in January 2025,
