Kansai Electric Power Co has started a survey for possible construction of a new reactor in Mihama in Japan’s Fukui Prefecture. The Mihama town government approved Kansai’s plan to conduct the survey in August. Units 1&2 at the existing Mihama NPP are set to be decommissioned, leaving only unit 3 in operation. However, in 2026, unit 3 will reach its 50th year in operation, 10 years beyond the standard design life of 40 years.
Surveys for a replacement reactor at Mihama began in late 2010 but halted after the 2011 Fukushima disaster. Through the survey, Kansai Electric will examine the geological and topographical conditions of two areas inside and outside the existing Mihama plant until around 2030 to determine the feasibility of building a new reactor.
The company will also assess profitability and consider the Nuclear Regulation Authority’s regulatory policy before making the final decision.
Kansai Electric has already started transporting materials and equipment to the survey areas. A boring survey is scheduled to start shortly, followed by field examinations in the second half of November to check geological distribution from ground level.
The survey will be conducted in two stages. Kansai will collect rock samples through drilling and examine geological conditions in the first stage. The second stage will involve excavating tunnels to check the properties of rocks. Preliminary investigations, including drilling surveys and surface reconnaissance, are scheduled to be completed by around March 2027. The survey is expected to continue until around 2030.
“We will prioritise safety during this investigation, and will continue to work hard to ensure the safe and stable operation of our nuclear power plants, Kansai said in a statement. “We will continue to promote our nuclear power generation business with the understanding of local residents and others.”
