Sendai Reactors To Restart Earlier Than Scheduled
The operator of a nuclear power plant in southwestern Japan says it will restart two offline reactors about one month earlier than planned.
It says progress in building additional mandatory safety systems was faster than expected.
Kyushu Electric Power Company suspended the No.1 and No.2 reactors at the Sendai plant in Kagoshima Prefecture in March and May respectively after it failed to meet the deadline for constructing the facilities.
New government regulations require that nuclear power plants have the facilities to ensure the safety of reactors in the event of emergencies such as acts of terrorism and aircraft crashes.
The regulations were drawn up after the nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant in 2011.
Kyushu Electric says it will resume operation of the No.1 reactor in late November and that of the No.2 reactor in late December. It says the earlier restart became possible after it streamlined its construction work.
The utility says it will carefully carry out inspections and other work while prioritizing safety.
