Kansai considers Mihama site for new reactor

Kansai noted that it announced in November 2010 its intention to begin a voluntary survey at the Mihama site for the construction of a new reactor to replace unit 1 there. However, the survey has been suspended since the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant in March 2011.

"However, 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," the company said.

Kansai said that the construction of new installations and the expansion and replacement of existing facilities is one of its goals under its Zero Carbon Vision 2050 initiative. "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."

It said the survey at the Mihama site is aimed at evaluating whether it is possible to construct a new plant there "by understanding the geomorphic and geological characteristics of the site to ensure that it conforms with the new regulatory requirements". 

It added: "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. Therefore, decisions to construct the successor plant will not be based solely on the results of this survey."

Kansai said it will hold briefings for the local community on this voluntary on-site survey, "and with their cooperation, plan to conduct geomorphic and geological surveys, etc".

According to a Reuters report, Kansai is considering deploying the SRZ-1200 advanced light water reactor being developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI).

In September 2022, MHI launched the SRZ-1200 design, which is being developed in collaboration with four Japanese utilities. The 1200 MWe reactor is designed to meet the country's enhanced regulatory safety standards.

While both units 1 and 2 at the Mihama plant have been shutdown, unit 3 of the plant is among the Japanese reactors that have resumed operation, having been restarted in June 2021.

The last nuclear power reactor to be constructed in Japan was unit 3 of Hokkaido Electric Power Company's Tomari plant, which began operation in 2009.