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Ruling party wants ‘nuclear-free homeland’ by 2025 The two-unit Kuosheng nuclear power station in Taiwan. Courtesy Taipower. Unit 2 of Taiwan’s Kuosheng nuclear power station has been taken offline, leaving only two reactors in commercial operation and potentially making the island state’s energy situation more precarious in the near term.

The closure of Kuosheng-2 on 15 March leaves two units in operation at the Maanshan nuclear power station, but both are scheduled to be shut down in the next two years, fulfilling the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s promise of a “nuclear-free homeland” by 2025.

The four reactors that have been shut down had a total net capacity of 3,178 MW, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. The two remaining reactors have a total net capacity of 1,874 MW.

Chinshan-1 was shut down in 2018, Chinshan-2 in 2019 and Kuosheng-1 in 2021.

Date: Friday, 17 March 2023
Original article: nucnet.org/news/latest-reactor-shutdown-leaves-island-in-precarious-position-3-4-2023

Country stepping away from 2011 Fukushima restrictions Japan's prime minister Fumio Kishida wants to maximise the use of nuclear energy. Image courtesy IAEA. The Japanese cabinet has approved legislation which will allow commercial nuclear power plants to operate longer as part of plans for a nuclear power comeback to tackle greenhouse gas emissions and energy security concerns.

Under the new rules, Tokyo will abolish the current 60-year operating limit for reactors and introduce a new system in which additional operating extensions can granted every 10 years after 30 years of service, with no maximum limit specified.

The move is a major step away from the current 40-year operating limit with a possible one-time extension of up to 20 years. The rules were introduced as part of stricter safety standards adopted after the 2011 Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear plant accident.

Date: Friday, 03 March 2023
Original article: nucnet.org/news/cabinet-approves-law-to-allow-reactor-operation-beyond-60-years-3-4-2023

Move is major change from policies introduced after 2011 Fukushima disaster Prime minister Fumio Kishida wants to maximise the use of nuclear energy, Japan’s nuclear regulator has approved draft legislation to allow commercial nuclear power plants to operate longer, in a split decision in which one of the five commissioners dissented.

The Nuclear Regulation Authority, responding to a new government policy to abolish the current 60-year operating limit for reactors, adopted a new system in which additional operating extensions can granted every 10 years after 30 years of service.

No maximum limit is specified. The NRA also adopted a draft revision of the reactor regulation law for approval by parliament.

It is a major change from the current 40-year operating limit with a possible one-time extension of up to 20 years, a rule that was introduced as part of stricter safety standards adopted after the 2011 Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear plant disaster.

Prime minister Fumio Kishida’s Cabinet adopted a plan last week to maximise the use of nuclear energy, including accelerating restarts of halted reactors, prolonging the operational life of aging plants and development of next-generation reactors to replace those designated for decommissioning.

Date: Thursday, 16 February 2023
Original article: nucnet.org/news/regulator-approves-legislation-to-allow-reactor-operation-beyond-60-years-2-3-2023

An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Operational Safety Review Team (OSART) team has concluded an 18-day mission to the Borssele NPP in the Netherlands. The Borssele NPP, with a single 482 MWe pressurised water reactor was commissioned in 1973. It contributes 3.1% of the Netherlands’ electricity production. At the end of 2022, the Dutch government approved the planned construction of two new units at the Borssele site, which should bring total electricity production from nuclear to 13%.

Date: Wednesday, 15 February 2023
Original article: neimagazine.com/news/newsiaea-reviews-safety-at-borssele-npp-in-the-netherlands-10593214

World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) chairman Tom Mitchell and new CEO Naoki Chigusa are optimistic about the future of the nuclear energy sector, and are taking steps to ensure the organisation is well placed to offer new players in the industry help and advice.

Date: Tuesday, 14 February 2023
Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/WANO-prepares-for-expansion-with-growth-of-new-nuc

EPZ, operator of the Borssele nuclear power plant in the Netherlands, is committed to ensuring operational safety and reliability of the plant, an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) mission has concluded. The team also encouraged continued improvements, including with its radiation protection programme.

Date: Tuesday, 14 February 2023
Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/IAEA-assesses-operational-safety-at-Dutch-reactor

Construction of MOX-fuelled reactor suspended after 2011 Fukushima disaster The unfinished Ohma nuclear power station in Japan. Courtesy Petra Alt/Wikipedia. Representatives from communities near the Ohma nuclear power station in Aomori Prefecture, northern Japan, have urged the government to support the resumption of the plant’s construction, the Tokyo-based Japan Atomic Industry Forum (Jaif) said.

The plant was to be the first commercial power reactor capable of operating solely on plutonium-uranium mixed oxide (MOX) fuel, which is made from reprocessed plutonium and uranium.

Jaif reported that Nozaki Naofumi, mayor of Ohma Town, said the region had been “impoverished” by the suspension of the plant’s construction in the wake of the 11 March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that destroyed the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear power station.

He asked the government to take “trenchant measures” to restart construction of the plant “as soon as possible.”

Date: Saturday, 11 February 2023
Original article: nucnet.org/news/community-leaders-urge-government-to-back-plans-for-ohma-nuclear-plant-2-5-2023

The International Atomic Energy (IAEA) Task Force established to monitor Japan’s plan to discharge treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi NPP has completed its second regulatory review. During a five-day visit to Japan, the Task Force met with officials from the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) to assess the regulatory framework for the discharge. This was IAEA’s second review of the plans.

Date: Wednesday, 25 January 2023
Original article: neimagazine.com/news/newsiaea-task-force-reviews-fukushima-water-discharge-plan-10539790

Italy is a steadfast partner in the challenges facing the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) today with a long history of achievements in the nuclear field, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi commented, as he travelled to Rome. During his two-day visit, Grossi met with Italy’s President and Foreign Minister, as well as with Pope Francis. Discussions covered a variety of issues including nuclear safety and security in Ukraine, nuclear non-proliferation, and the role of nuclear science and technology in combating climate change.

Date: Wednesday, 18 January 2023
Original article: neimagazine.com/news/newsgrossi-holds-talks-with-italian-leaders-and-pope-francis-10523617

Asian nation recently reversed policy on post-Fukushima reactor phaseout US energy secretary Jennifer Granholm and Japan’s industry minister Yasutoshi Nishimura during talks in Washington. Courtesy Twitter/@SecGranholm. The US and Japan have agreed to strengthen cooperation on developing and constructing next-generation advanced reactors, including small modular reactors, “within each country and third countries”.

Japan’s industry minister Yasutoshi Nishimura and US energy secretary Jennifer Granholm met in Washington to discuss the situation surrounding global energy security, strengthening clean energy cooperation, and the importance of clean energy transitions, including renewable energies and nuclear energy.

They said in a joint statement that in response to the energy impacts of Russia’s war against Ukraine, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan and the US Department of Energy discussed the need for diverse and secure supplies of energy, noting support for investment in the US to improve energy security.

The two governments already announced plans in October to work together on helping Ghana introduce SMR technology. They want to make the African nation a regional SMR hub and deploy a Voygr SMR nuclear power plant developed by US-based NuScale.

Date: Thursday, 12 January 2023
Original article: nucnet.org/news/countries-to-strengthen-nuclear-cooperations-including-small-modular-reactors-1-3-2023