Sendai Nuclear Power unit becomes second Japanese plant to restart operations

The Kyushu Electric Power Co. restarted the second unit at the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant this past week, making it the second nuclear power plant to come online in Japan since the meltdown, following its counterpart, Unit 1.

According to a report from the Japan Atomic Industrial Forum (JAIF), the unit was reconnected to the power grid on Oct. 21, with its output capacity expected to reach 100 percent by early November on a gradual basis. Both units at the Sendai nuclear plant follow new regulations that were established by the country’s Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) in July of 2013.

Foro Nuclear reports that there are currently three other nuclear units that have been approved through the NRA: Takahama Units 3 and 4, which are owned by the Kansai Electric Power Co., and the Ikata Unit 3, owned and operated by the Shikoku Electric Power Co.

Their status toward restarting operations is dependent on a temporary injunction of the Fukui District Court being lifted and pre-service inspection, respectively. The Ikata unit is expected to come online in early 2016.

According to JAIF, operations had been suspended at Sendai Unit 2 for four years and one month. Sendai Unit 1 resumed operation in August, but it experienced an issue with seawater leaking into a condenser component, which prompted an extensive inspection into the condenser piping systems.