Kansai Electric Power Co. on Monday began checking the safety of two aging nuclear reactors in Fukui Prefecture that are nearing the end of their certified lives to see if it can keep them going for another two decades.
The reactors are the No. 1 and No. 2 units at the Takahama nuclear plant.
Safety requirements adopted after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear crisis include a provision requiring operators to shut and dismantle reactors when they are 40 years old. But the nuclear regulator may grant a one-time extension of up to 20 years if utilities carry out thorough checks on their safety systems and the integrity of the containment vessel.