OSAKA : Kansai Electric Power Company announced today that the upcoming survey will assess the feasibility of constructing a new reactor at the coastal Mihama plant in Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture. The new unit is intended to replace one of the decommissioned reactors, with only Reactor No. 3 currently in operation.

“We will begin the geological survey, while being careful to communicate with the local population and gain their support and cooperation,” said Nozomu Mori, President of Kansai Electric, during a press conference in Osaka. His remarks underscore a renewed commitment to transparency and public engagement following years of public skepticism post-Fukushima.

Plans for a replacement reactor were first announced in 2010 but were shelved in the aftermath of the 2011 disaster and rising opposition to nuclear energy. However, with growing demand for stable energy sources, Japan’s government has revisited its nuclear policy. In its latest basic energy plan unveiled in February, the government emphasized the need to develop safer, next-generation reactors to secure the country’s energy future.

The proposed project is expected to undergo rigorous scrutiny from Japan’s Nuclear Regulatory Authority, with strict reviews of site conditions and safety protocols. Kansai Electric is working with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and other partners to design an advanced light water reactor, equipped to withstand natural disasters and modern security threats.

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