The Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) endorsed Kansai Electric Power Co.'s decade-long management plan for the No. 1 reactor at the Takahama plant in central Japan.
The facility's Nos. 1 and 2 reactors were approved in June 2016 to operate beyond 40 years. In 2023, both reactors were rebooted for the first time since the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, when radioactive contaminants were spilled out.
The government recently passed legislation enabling reactors to operate beyond the previous 60-year limit, with certain conditions including safety.
Under the new system, offline periods due to factors such as safety reviews or legal injunctions will not count toward a reactor's operational lifespan. The NRA will conduct safety inspections at least once every decade after a reactor reaches 30 years of service to ensure the ongoing safety of aging facilities.
