Kansai Electric Power Company plans to resume surveys at the Mihama nuclear power plant site in Fukui Prefecture, Japan, to evaluate the feasibility of building a new reactor to replace Unit 1, which was permanently decommissioned in 2015. The company initially announced its intent to conduct voluntary surveys in November 2010, but these were halted after the Fukushima Daiichi incident in March 2011.

The Mihama plant

The surveys will assess the site’s geomorphic and geological characteristics to ensure compliance with current regulatory standards. “We will now resume the voluntary on-site survey to evaluate the possibility to construct the successor plant of Mihama Nuclear Power Station, and as a preparation to move forward conducting such a survey, we will provide explanations to the local community,” Kansai stated. To foster community support, the company will hold briefings to outline the survey process and collaborate with local residents.

This initiative supports Kansai’s Zero Carbon Vision 2050, which focuses on developing and upgrading energy facilities for sustainability. “To achieve such goal, we consider it necessary to resume voluntary on-site surveys as part of the evaluation to decide whether the business to construct successor plants is feasible,” the company noted. Kansai clarified that any decision to construct a new reactor will consider multiple factors, including advancements in reactor technology, regulatory frameworks, and investment conditions, beyond just the survey outcomes. “Whether the construction of the successor plant is feasible is required to be judged comprehensively, considering various factors, such as the status of development of advanced light water reactors, regulation policy and business environment conditions to make investment decisions, in addition to the results of this survey,” Kansai added.

Reports indicate Kansai is considering the SRZ-1200 advanced light water reactor, developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in collaboration with four Japanese utilities. Introduced in September 2022, this 1200 MWe reactor meets Japan’s enhanced safety standards. While Mihama Units 1 and 2 remain offline, Unit 3 restarted operations in June 2021, joining other reactivated reactors in Japan. The last new nuclear reactor commissioned in Japan was Unit 3 at Hokkaido Electric Power Company’s Tomari plant, operational since 2009.

By resuming these surveys, Kansai aims to modernize its energy infrastructure while prioritizing safety and community engagement. The effort reflects the company’s commitment to sustainable energy development and aligns with Japan’s broader goals for a low-carbon future.