An electric utility in Japan will resume what it describes as a voluntary on-site survey that could lead to construction of the nation’s first new nuclear power plant since the Fukushima Dai-ichi accident in March 2011.
Kansai Electric Power Company announced in a Tuesday July 22 press release it will resume the survey work on hold for 11 years “to evaluate the possibility to construct the successor plant to the Mihama Power Station.”
The utility further said it would provide explanations to the local community in the Fukui Prefecture.
The utility said nuclear power would play a key role in its “Zero Carbon Vision 2025” effort. It remains to be seen whether construction of a new plant is feasible, the utility added.
“We will continue to make our best efforts to ensure safe and stable operations of our nuclear power plants,” Kansai Electric Power Company or KEPCO said in the release.
CNN and Reuters reported the development Tuesday, in an article said Japan leans heavily on fossil fuel imports for much of its energy.
Four of six Fukushima Dai-ichi reactors lost all power from the generators after Japan was shook by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami wave on March 11, 2011, according to a U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission summary. Hydrogen exploded in a couple of the reactors and spewed radioactive contamination over a large chunk of Japan.
“The Japanese government has reopened limited areas for residents to return to, but many communities remain off-limits,” according to the summary. “Work continues to isolate the damaged reactors and radioactive contamination from the environment.”
