Japan to expand nuclear capacity

JAPAN - Japan has the third-highest total installed nuclear capacity, behind the United States and France, with about 48 gigawatts GW.

By November, nuclear usage had risen to about 70, about 7 higher than the year before. The country's capacity is mainly being hindered by Chubu Electric Power Company Incorporated and Chugoku Electric Power Company Incorporated Chuden. Chubu Electric's nuclear capacity is running below 50, due to earthquake-stricken units at its Hamaoka plant in the Shizuoka prefecture. Instead of improving earthquake resistance of the downed Hamaoka units and restarting them, Chubu Electric plans to build new replacement units that are better-equipped to handle immense seismic activity.

Chuden's only power plant is now running above 50, as Chuden has restarted operations of Unit 2 at its Shimane prefecture power plant. Both units of the Shimane plant were shut down due to safety discrepancies, bringing Chuden's active nuclear production to nil.

The local government of Shimane prefecture gave Chuden the green light to restart operations at the Shimane plant in October, and Chuden finally restarted Unit 2's operations on December 6. Chuden is also in the midst of constructing a new unit at the Shimane site. The $5.1 billion Hitachi advanced boiling water reactor ABWR is expected to be completed toward the end of next year and should be operational by mid-2012.

In 2012, Chuden is also planning to begin construction on its second nuclear power station in near Kaminoseki, in the Yamaguchi prefecture. So far, the planned Kaminoseki site, which has been plagued with local protests, will be comprised of two ABWRs to be designed by Hitachi Limited. Each reactor will generate 1,373 megawatts for the local grid, though Unit 1 will not see completion until 2018. Unit 2's completion will follow in 2020, assuming everything goes according to plan.

Currently, Hitachi and Shimizu Corporation are conducting land reclamation and foundation construction, which is expected to be completed early in 2012. The new nuclear power station is expected to cost more than $7 billion.