Friday, April 4, 2025

Japan’s Ohi nuclear plant’s No. 3 reactor attains criticality

Date:

Share post:

Tokyo: A reactor at the Oi nuclear power plant in western Japan reached criticality on Monday after it became the first one to be rebooted last night in the aftermath of last year’s meltdowns at Fukushima.

After being idled for over 15 months for mandatory checks since March last year, the No. 3 reactor at the Kansai Electric Power Co. plant in Fukui Prefecture is now slated to gradually increase output and restart power transmission as early as Wednesday.

It is due to go into full operation possibly by next Sunday, Kyodo news agency reported.

The utility serving western Japan continued work to resume operation of the 1.18 million kilowatt reactor to head off power crunch despite a noisy demonstration outside the plant.

It pulled out the reactor’s 53 control rods that had contained fission reactions, while gradually reducing the concentration of boron that has the same function in the primary cooling water.

Criticality was reached at 6 am (local time) Monday. Senior Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Seishu Makino witnessed the work as part of the government’s efforts to enhance monitoring of the plant’s resumption amid public concern over nuclear safety in the wake of Fukushima accident.

Fukui Governor Issei Nishikawa said in a statement that the plant’s safe operations as the first facility to resume operations after checkups since the Fukushima crisis will be ‘‘the key to regaining confidence in nuclear power that was lost after the accident in Fukushima.’’

‘‘I expect the utility and the central government to make utmost efforts to ensure safety and power supply to the Kansai region’’ of western Japan, he said. (PTI)

Related articles

PM Modi urges Bangladesh’s Yunus to avoid rhetoric, protect minorities

Bangkok, April 4: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday raised the issue of safety and security of minorities...

SC orders Yasin Malik to cross-examine witnesses virtually from Tihar

New Delhi, April 4: The Supreme Court on Friday allowed jailed JKLF chief Yasin Malik to cross-examine witnesses...

India in active talks with domestic pharma exporters amid new US tariff threat

New Delhi, April 4: The Commerce Ministry is in active talks with Indian pharmaceutical exporters amid growing concerns...

Rupee strengthens against dollar amid Trump’s reciprocal tariffs

New Delhi, April 4: The Indian rupee witnessed sharp gains on Friday at below 85 against dollar, as...