Kansai Electric Power Co. said Wednesday it hopes to apply for a 20-year extension for two aging reactors that are close to the end of their 40-year approved life cycle, and plans to soon begin inspections which are a prerequisite for the move.
The No. 1 and 2 reactors at the Takahama power plant in Fukui Prefecture are 40 and 39 years old, respectively. However, they can be certified for longer life, after exhaustive safety testing for cracks and wear, if they apply to the Nuclear Regulation Authority and get approval.
New reactors are certified for only four decades, but there is a provision in the law for a one-time application to extend their life to 60 years. Kepco will carry out its own inspection and may then apply to the NRA for the extension.