Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012

An International Atomic Energy Agency delegation tasked with evaluating the adequacy of the nation's reactor stress tests held its first meeting Monday with the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency.

At the Tokyo meeting, Shinichi Kuroki, NISA deputy director general for nuclear power, told the 10-member IAEA delegation that the stress tests being carried out at the nation's nuclear plants, initiated in light of the triple-meltdown crisis at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima No. 1 plant, are modeled after nuclear safety reviews conducted by the European Union.

"So far we have been evaluating (the tests) by consulting with domestic experts, but we would like to achieve a higher level of safety by also taking into account international expertise," Kuroki said. "Opinions we will receive will be reflected in our future evaluation methods, so we would like you to evaluate (our tests) rigorously."

Delegation head James Lyons, nuclear installation safety director of the IAEA's nuclear safety and security department, said he hopes that productive meetings with NISA will lead to improved nuclear plants not only in Japan but worldwide.

The delegation, which includes external experts, is scheduled to visit Kansai Electric Power Co.'s Oi nuclear plant in Fukui Prefecture on Thursday.

The Oi plant's reactors 3 and 4 are currently idled for regular checks, and NISA has compiled a draft report endorsing the results of first-stage safety tests submitted by Kepco.

After receiving the IAEA's review, the agency will finalize its report on the two reactors possibly next month.

After undergoing the checks by the Nuclear Safety Commission, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and other ministers will judge whether to approve restarting the reactors.

Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yukio Edano has said it is necessary to win a certain level of acceptance from the host communities to restart idled reactors.

The IAEA delegation is scheduled to end its visit Jan. 31 and afterward compile a summary report. Since the crisis erupted at Tepco's Fukushima No. 1 plant triggered by the March 2011 megaquake and tsunami, the government has required utilities to conduct computer simulation-based safety tests to check how well their systems to protect fuel rods can withstand earthquakes, tsunami and the loss of power.

Reactors idled for scheduled checks are subject to the first round of tests, and all reactors are required to undergo the second round of tests.

Fukushima as host site?

FUKUSHIMA — The government may pick Fukushima Prefecture to host an international conference on nuclear safety to be cohosted by Japan and the International Atomic Energy Agency later this year, Foreign Minister Koichiro Genba said Sunday.

Genba, a House of Representatives member elected from the Fukushima No. 3 constituency, said at a gathering in the city of Sukagawa that the prefecture should "make progress in its reconstruction efforts with a resolve to demonstrate to the world its goals and achievements."

The government is considering selecting Koriyama as the host city, Genba added.

The foreign minister said the upcoming meeting is aimed at sharing with the international community the lessons learned from the meltdown crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant and will hopefully draw about 50 ministers from around the world.

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and his predecessor, Naoto Kan, agreed with IAEA chief Yukiya Amano to jointly organize the meeting in Japan in the latter half of 2012.

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