19 July 2012

Japan : Second Ohi Reactor Restart

On 18 July 2012 at 21h00, Kansai Electric Power Company (KEPCO) began the restart procedure of its Ohi-4 reactor. Criticality was reached in the morning of 19 July with grid connection expected for 21 July. This reactor reactivation is the second after grid connection of Ohi-3 on 5 July since all Japanese nuclear power plants were progressively shut down after 3/11. The restart was decided in spite of unprecedented protests in the country and a peak load in Kansai area 9% to over 20% lower compared to pre-3/11 year 2010. On 16 July an estimated 170,000 people demonstrated in Tokyo against the reopening of reactors and for the abandoning of nuclear power. Tens of thousands of people have been gathering every Friday in Tokyo for the past weeks to protest the government’s nuclear policy.