Kansai Electric Power Co. formally submitted an application to the Nuclear Regulation Authority on Thursday for permission to extend the life of its aging Mihama No. 3 reactor for up to another two decades.
The reactor will turn 40 years old in December 2016. Under new rules established by the NRA, an operator may apply for a one-time extension to continue operating a 40-year-old reactor for 20 years, assuming it passes additional safety inspections. Kepco has already applied to extend its Takahama No. 1 and 2 reactors, both of which are now over 40 years old.
Kepco president Makoto Yagi said Thursday the decision was taken after the utility decided it would be better to restart the unit than to scrap it, despite the additional costs involved in meeting new earthquake and disaster safety standards.