The Japan Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) has approved the decommissioning plans for 5 reactors at 4 nuclear plants. This is the first approval of this kind since the Fukushima accident in 2011. The process is expected to last about 30 years.
The targeted reactors are:
- The 340 MW Mihama-1 and 500 MW Mihama-2 reactors, located in the Fukui prefecture and operated by Kansai Electric Power Company (KEPCO). They were commissioned in the early 1970s and were officially shut down in April 2015.
- The 341 MW Tsuruga-1 reactor, belonging to Japan Atomic Power Co. Is, which was officially shut down in April 2015.
- The 460 MW Shimane-1 unit, located in the Shimane prefecture and belonging to Chugoku Electric Power Co. It was commissioned in March 1974 and officially taken out of service in April 2015. Chugoku Electric submitted the decommissioning plan in May 2016. The works are expected to be completed by March 2046.
- The 529 MW Genkai-1 reactor, belonging to Kyushu Electric Power Co., will be decommissioned. In January 2017, the NRA approved the restart of the 1,127 MW Genkai-3 and 1,127 MW Genkai-4 units (approval by the Genkai city authorities in March 2017); however, the restart of the units is still subject to the prefecture's governor approval.
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