Last week's ruling by the Fukui District Court blocking the restart of two reactors at the Oi power plant in Fukui Prefecture continues to create controversy, with operator Kansai Electric Power Co. saying it may defy the decision and fire up the reactors if three conditions are met even as safety concerns mount.
"We've appealed the verdict, which means the ruling is not yet confirmed. Our thinking hasn't changed about restarting the reactors as soon as their safety has been confirmed," Kepco President Makoto Yagi said Tuesday.
Kepco has appealed to the Kanazawa branch of the Nagoya High Court. A decision could take two or three years. After that, depending on the verdict, it could be appealed to the Supreme Court, adding more years before a final decision is reached.