Japan: new rules for extending nuclear reactor lifespans

Japan’s economy ministry proposed new rules for the extension of nuclear plants’ lifespans beyond the current 60-year limit. The rules aim to implement new regulations that will take effect in June, maximizing the country’s nuclear energy capacity by extending the activity of aging reactors. Under the guidelines, periods when a nuclear plant did not operate for regulatory reviews or a court order will not count in its official lifespan. This will allow the No. 1 reactor at the Takahama nuclear power plant in Fukui prefecture, for example, to operate up to 72 years after its debut in 1974, discounting 12 and a half years of inactivity due to inspections and reviews after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. However, reactors taken offline for operator negligence or misconduct will not be eligible for extensions. This category includes the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata prefecture, which was shut down for over 2 years due to inadequate anti-terrorism measures.
Following the new rules, the economy ministry will approve extensions beyond the 60-year limit on a case-by-case basis. However, there are still some uncertainties, with members of the ministry’s expert panel calling for greater transparency in the approval process. Japan introduced a strict 40-year limit on reactor lifespans after the 2011 Fukushima accident, but energy demands and a greater reliance on the nuclear sector have pushed the government to extend the lifespan of up to 20 years, subject to approval from the Nuclear Regulation Authority. Keeping the existing reactors operational is cheaper than building new ones and helps maximize the use of nuclear power. However, no nuclear reactor has operated for over 60 years, and questions remain about the safety of aging reactors.