Reactivation of Japan's Oldest Nuclear Plant at 49 Years... "Concerns Over a Second Fukushima"

Over 75% of Nuclear Plants Over 40 Years Old Restarted
"Many Earthquakes and Disasters in Japan... Safety Concerns"

The Takahama Nuclear Power Plant, Japan's oldest nuclear power plant that has been standing for a staggering 49 years, has resumed operation after extending its operational lifespan, sparking widespread controversy both inside and outside Japan. The Japanese government insists that it has no choice but to resort to restarting aging nuclear power plants amid rising fuel costs and worsening power shortages. However, critics warn that the continued operation of aging nuclear plants, which carry a high risk of accidents in earthquake-prone Japan, could lead to a second Fukushima nuclear disaster.

According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) on the 17th, Kansai Electric Power's Takahama Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1, built in 1974, began restarting operations on the 28th of last month. Takahama Unit 1, Japan's oldest nuclear power plant operated for an impressive 49 years, had stopped operation for a regular inspection during the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident by Tokyo Electric Power Company in 2011, and has now resumed operation.

The appearance of Takahama Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1. (Photo by NHK)

Kansai Electric Power stated that after the Fukushima accident, nuclear safety standards changed, and they conducted 12 years of reinforcement work on the breakwater, claiming that safe operation is possible. However, concerns about safety are spreading widely.

The Japanese government traditionally maintained the lifespan of nuclear power plants as "40 years in principle, up to 60 years at most," but this year revised the law to allow the period during which operation was suspended to be excluded from the operational period. Considering the 12 years that Takahama Unit 1 was stopped, it could potentially operate for more than 60 years.

Electric power companies are appealing that restarting nuclear power plants is necessary due to rising fuel costs for electricity production. Tokyo Electric Power and Tohoku Electric Power, which stopped nuclear power plant operations, raised electricity rates due to soaring gas prices caused by the Ukraine war. However, Kansai Electric Power, which restarted its nuclear power plant, froze its rates. As a result, the electricity rate gap between eastern and western Japan widened, ultimately determined by whether nuclear power plants were operating.

Accordingly, aging nuclear power plants are being restarted one after another. Currently, Japan has four power plants over 40 years old, three of which have already restarted or are scheduled to restart. Mihama Unit 3 in Fukui Prefecture began restarting last year, and following Takahama Unit 1, Unit 2 will resume operation from mid-next month. The remaining one, Tokai No. 2 Nuclear Power Plant, is under construction, and its restart timing is uncertain. This means that 75% of aging nuclear power plants that have reached the end of their lifespan have been restarted.

Moreover, the number of nuclear power plants reaching the 40-year lifespan is expected to increase. According to Nikkei, more than half of the existing 33 nuclear power plants will exceed 40 years of operation within 10 years. Nikkei pointed out, "Japan is entering an era of long-term operation of aging nuclear power plants."

Of course, proponents of restarting argue that there is no need to worry because many aging nuclear power plants over 40 years old are operated overseas. According to the Japan Atomic Industrial Forum, out of 431 nuclear power plants worldwide, 109 have been in operation for more than 40 years. In the United States, which has 92 of these, more than half have exceeded 40 years.

However, Nikkei expressed concern, saying, "Just because there are cases overseas does not mean long-term operation is problem-free in Japan. The Japanese archipelago is a region with frequent earthquake disasters worldwide. Undersea earthquakes cause tsunamis, and underestimating this was the cause of the Fukushima accident."

There are also challenges required for aging nuclear power plants. Prolonged exposure to fission neutrons weakens the reactor pressure vessel. In the case of aging nuclear power plants, if the reactor is rapidly cooled in an emergency, the weakened vessel is at greater risk of damage.

Nikkei added, "Replaceable equipment will be replaced with new ones, but the pressure vessel and the building itself cannot be changed. The only option is to monitor for any abnormalities."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.