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Chugoku Electric Restarts Shimane Unit 2 Nuclear Reactor, Same Type as Fukushima's, After 13 Years

Dec 7, 2024, 06:16 AM

Chugoku Electric Power Company restarted Unit 2 of the Shimane Nuclear Power Plant at around 3 PM on December 7, marking the first operation of the reactor since it was shut down in January 2012, nearly 13 years ago. The reactor reached criticality around 5 PM. This is the 14th reactor in Japan to resume operation under post-Fukushima safety regulations and the second boiling water reactor of the same type as those at the Fukushima Daiichi plant to restart. The Shimane plant, located in Matsue City—the only prefectural capital with a nuclear power plant—has about 450,000 residents living within a 30-kilometer radius, raising concerns over evacuation plans and emergency preparedness. The reactor is expected to contribute 40 billion yen annually to the company's profits and help reduce Japan's reliance on fossil fuel imports. Electricity supply to the grid is expected to begin in late December, with commercial operation starting in early January after completing necessary tests and regulatory procedures.