Second nuclear plant reactor reactivated in Japan following Fukushima disaster

Tokyo, July 19 (ANI): Japan's Kansai Electric Power Co. has reactivated the reactor 4 at the Oi nuclear plant in Fukui Prefecture, making it the second reactor to be restarted since the Fukushima nuclear crisis of March 2011.

The Japanese power firm reactivated the plant's reactor 3 on July 1 and brought it to full operation July 9, prompting the government to lower summer power-saving targets for the service areas of four power suppliers in western Japan.

According to Japan Times, reactor 4, which is capable of generating 1.18 million KW, is scheduled to begin transmitting power Saturday and commence full operation July 25, further easing power constraints in western Japan.

The reactor was idled July 22, 2011, for regular inspections and maintenance, and also had to pass disaster-stress tests introduced in light of the Fukushima crisis.

When reactor 4 begins full operation, the Japanese government plans to remove power-saving targets for Chubu Electric Power, Hokuriku Electric Power and Chugoku Electric Power, while further easing the target for Shikoku Electric Power from 7 percent to 5 percent.

However, it intends to maintain the 10 percent target, recently reduced from 15 percent, for Kansai Electric, the report said. (ANI)