Nearly eight years after an earthquake and tsunami triggered nuclear meltdowns at Tokyo Electric Power’s (9501.T) Fukushima Daiichi plant, the battered industry is making a quiet and somewhat unexpected return in Japan. Ikata is a poster child for that recovery. In September, a court reversed a decision that had idled Shikoku Electric’s sole nuclear reactor for about a year, paving the way for the operator to re-open the facility last week. Regional utilities like Shikoku Electric have aggressively fought a string of lawsuits since 2011, hiring veteran lawyers to beef up their legal teams. At the same time, they wooed towns where nuclear plants are based, visiting with residents door to door while the government kept up a stream of generous subsidies for local projects. Thanks in large part to this strategy, Japan is on track to have nine reactors running in the near future.
Reuters 1st Nov 2018 read more »
Shikoku Electric Power Co. said Friday a reactor at its Ikata nuclear power plant in western Japan has resumed operating at full capacity after about a year offline. The No. 3 unit at the plant in the town of Ikata in Ehime Prefecture had been shut down following a high court order citing safety risks. The power company has said the reactor is expected to be put into commercial operation on Nov. 28.
Mainichi 2nd Nov 2018 read more »