Fuel loading at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa 6
The process involves transferring 872 fuel assemblies from the used fuel storage pool to the core of the 1356 MWe Advanced Boiling Water Reactor. Tepco expects the loading to take approximately two weeks. The company stated: “We will continue to carefully load the reactor with fuel until the last fuel assembly has been loaded.”
Tepco applied for approval from Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) in September 2013 to restart units 6 and 7, submitting details on safety upgrades for the site and these units. Both 1356 MWe reactors, which began commercial operation in 1996 and 1997, respectively, were the first boiling water reactors proposed for restart in Japan. In 2017, the NRA granted permission to restart both units.
In early 2021, Tepco reported issues with intruder detection equipment and unauthorized ID card use at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa site. Consequently, in April 2021, the NRA issued an order prohibiting nuclear fuel movement until security enhancements were verified. This restriction was lifted in December 2023 after inspections confirmed improved measures.
Further regulatory inspections are required before units 6 and 7, offline since August 2011 and March 2012, respectively, can resume operations. Tepco completed fuel loading for unit 7 in April 2024, aiming for a restart as early as summer 2025. However, unit 7 will need to pause operations in October 2025 to implement anti-terrorism safety measures.
For unit 6, Tepco has until September 2029 to complete these safety upgrades, allowing potential continuous operation until then, subject to local approval. The company is prioritizing units 6 and 7 while managing cleanup efforts at Fukushima Daiichi. Restarting these units is expected to boost Tepco’s annual earnings by approximately JPY100 billion (USD706 million).
Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) has begun loading 872 fuel assemblies into unit 6 at its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant in Japan, targeting a restart ahead of unit 7, which was fueled last year. The process, involving a 1356 MWe Advanced Boiling Water Reactor, will take about two weeks. Tepco stated: “We will continue to carefully load the reactor with fuel until the last fuel assembly has been loaded.”
Tepco sought Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) approval in 2013 for units 6 and 7, operational since 1996 and 1997. The NRA approved restarts in 2017, but security issues in 2021 halted fuel movement until enhancements were verified in December 2023. Further inspections are needed for both units, offline since 2011 and 2012. Unit 7, fueled in April 2024, may restart by summer 2025 but will pause in October for safety upgrades. Unit 6 has until September 2029 for these measures, pending local approval. Restarts could add JPY100 billion (USD706 million) to Tepco’s annual earnings.
