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Four Japanese Power Companies will Cooperate in the Field of Nuclear Power Safety
Japan's four power companies, Kansai, Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kyushu, will cooperate in aspects such as nuclear power plant accident response, reactor scrapping technology, and safety measures for restarting nuclear power plants. The purpose of this move is to unite to deal with common problems faced by various companies, improve safety and efficiency, and at the same time save the cost of safety countermeasures that surged after the Fukushima nuclear accident.This is the first time that domestic power giants have cooperated in a wide range of nuclear power fields. These four companies are geographically close to each other and are taking the lead in promoting nuclear power plant restarts and reactor scrapping, and face common issues. After the full liberalization of electricity retail in April, competition with new power companies has become more intense. These four major power companies believe that cooperation can also lead to an improvement in the operating environment. The agreement will be signed by the end of April at the earliest, and talent exchanges will begin in 2016.
In order to maintain technological momentum, Tokyo Electric Power and other East Japan power giants may expand cooperation by dispatching nuclear power managers to Kansai Electric Power and others.
Specifically, the four power companies will strengthen mechanisms for close communication in the event of serious accidents such as reactor core meltdowns. In order to prevent power loss, a mutual utilization mechanism for the rapid dispatch of mobile power supply trucks, pump trucks and other equipment will be established. It is also considering admitting other companies to participate in disaster prevention training and listening to external opinions to improve safety awareness.
The four companies decided to take action on units 1 and 2 of Kansai Electric Power's Mihama Nuclear Power Plant (Fukui Prefecture), China Electric Power's Shimane Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 (Shimane Prefecture), Shikoku Electric Power's Ikata Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 (Ehime Prefecture), Kyushu Electric Power Unit 1 of the Genkai Nuclear Power Plant (Saga Prefecture) is undergoing reactor scrapping. The scrapping operation may take more than 30 years and is highly professional. The four companies will accumulate experience and technology from each other.
On the other hand, Units 1 and 2 of the Kudengawa Nuclear Power Plant (Kagoshima Prefecture) are in operation, and Units 3 and 4 of the Kanden Takahama Nuclear Power Plant (Fukui Prefecture) have also restarted for a time this year. Unit 3 of the Iranian nuclear power plant plans to restart in late July, and the four companies will share information such as response strategies and startup procedures reviewed by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Commission.
