Kyushu Electric Power Co. restarted a second reactor at its Sendai nuclear power plant in Kagoshima Prefecture on Oct. 15, overriding persistent safety concerns among local residents.
Kyushu Electric Power Co. restarted a second reactor at its Sendai nuclear power plant in Kagoshima Prefecture on Oct. 15, overriding persistent safety concerns among local residents.
At 10:30 a.m., Kyushu Electric Power workers lowered a lever in the plant's central control room to remove control rods in the No. 2 reactor to start the process of nuclear fission.
Kagoshima Governor Yuichiro Ito exhorted the utility to pay utmost attention to ensuring safety at the plant after the No. 2 reactor was restarted.
"Japan's nuclear policy will end should local residents be forced to evacuate in a grave accident," Ito said. "I think the Nuclear Regulation Authority screened the facility, fully aware of such a scenario, and the utility should share the same recognition in proceeding with reactivation."
Utility officials said the reactor is expected to reach a state of criticality, at which nuclear fission is self-sustaining, around 11 p.m.
The No. 2 reactor became the second to come back online in Japan under more rigid safety regulations implemented after the Fukushima nuclear crisis triggered by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster.
Despite protests by opponents of nuclear energy, the No. 1 reactor at the plant in Satsuma-Sendai city became the first to resume operations in August under the new regulations.
The No. 2 reactor was shut down for a periodic inspection in September 2011 and had remained idle ever since.
“We will continue to cooperate with the central government’s inspection procedures and proceed with operational procedures at the plant by putting utmost priority on securing its safety,” said Kyushu Electric Power President Michiaki Uriu in a statement released on Oct. 15.
Steam produced from the heat generated by the nuclear fission will drive a turbine to produce electricity. The generation and transmission of electricity is expected to begin on Oct. 21 after the utility completes an inspection of the turbine and other equipment.
The output will be raised gradually to start commercial operations in mid-November, the officials said.
The Sendai nuclear plant became the first nuclear facility in Japan in September last year to meet the new safety standards imposed by the NRA in July 2013.
Preparations for a restart are progressing at the No. 3 reactor of Shikoku Electric Power Co.’s Ikata nuclear power plant in Ehime Prefecture and at the No. 3 and No. 4 reactors of Kansai Electric Power Co.’s Takahama nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture.
Kyushu Electric Power is also seeking to reactivate the No. 3 and No. 4 reactors at its Genkai nuclear power plant in Saga Prefecture.