Japan Press Weekly

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2012 February 1 - 7 [NUCLEAR CRISIS]

Bill allowing operations of N-reactors for more than 40 years to be submitted

The Noda Cabinet on January 31 decided to submit to the current ordinary session of the Diet a bill to enable utilities to operate nuclear reactors for more than 40 years. The bill, if enacted, will be put into effect in April.

In the bill, the period of operation of nuclear reactors will be limited to 40 years in principle. However, after 40 years of operations, if a nuclear reactor passes a safety examination, its operation period will be extended for another 20 years.

Regarding the existing nuclear reactors which are already 40 years old and more, the government will establish new standards and procedures needed to allow their further operation within 10 months after the bill comes into effect.

In the background behind the government decision to use such old nuclear reactor lies power companies’ strong demands to do so.