To keep the only nuclear plant now online from shutting down, the Nuclear Regulation Authority said Tuesday it will inspect Kansai Electric Power Co.'s Oi atomic facility in Fukui Prefecture according to new safety standards prior to their official July debut.

After a regular meeting at which the watchdog compiled a basic policy for the introduction of the reactor safety standards, NRA Chairman Shunichi Tanaka said the Oi plant's reactors 3 and 4 will be inspected possibly by April.

If no problems are found, the NRA will authorize their continued operation until September, when they have to undergo routine maintenance, Tanaka said.