2 September 2013

Japan Closes One of Two Remaining Operating Reactors

On 2 September 2013, the third unit of the Ohi nuclear power plant was closed leaving unit 4 the only reactor generating any electricity across Japan. However, with the other reactor also to close, by September 15, the country will be without any nuclear power plants in operation. The closure of the units is initially for routine refueling and maintenance, however, it is unclear when the reactors will restart as they must now conform to new rules the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) issued in July. Four utilities have applied to the NRA to restart 12 reactors, however the Tokyo Times reports that there are ‘no clear prospects of restarting any of them’.