
Fukui Prefecture Governor Tatsuji Sugimoto expressed his intention to approve the extension of Takahama Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4 beyond 2025. The power plant’s operator, Kansai Electric Power Company (KEPCO) has already received approvals from the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) and Takahama Town.
Takahama Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4, both rated at 870MW, were commissioned in January and June 1985 respectively. As such, in 2025, they will both reach 40 years of operation, beyond which point they can only operate with an approval of operation extension by the NRA. While that is the only legally required approval, KEPCO also voluntarily sought approvals from the town and prefecture in which the power plant is located.
The NRA approved a 20-year extension for the power plant in May 2024 and on June 18, 2024, Nose Toyotomi, Takahama Town’s mayor, followed.
“The Nuclear Regulation Authority has conducted a thorough review and the necessary measures have been taken, so I believe that safety is ensured,” said Sugimoto to the media on July 9, 2024. The Communist Party disagreed with Sugimoto, saying it does not believe safety has been guaranteed and requesting KEPCO and the national government to hold an explanatory meeting for residents living in near the power plant.
KEPCO currently operates three nuclear power plants including Takahama (four units), Oi (two units), and Mihama (one unit). Takahama’s Units 1 and 2, as well as Mihama’s Unit 3 (its only operational unit) have already received approvals from the NRA and reached the 40-year mark. Oi’s two operational reactors, Units 3 and 4 were commissioned in 1991 and 1993 respectively and so are still over five years away from reaching the mark.