TEPCO resumes operations at quake-hit reactor
TOKYO, JAPAN - Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) said its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant resumed commercial operations recently for the first time since being damaged in an earthquake in July 2007.
The trade ministry gave final approval for the 1,356 megawatt No.7 reactor to restart commercial operations at the world's largest nuclear facility.
The No.7 unit was first restarted on May 9 this year, but commercial operations had been delayed due to an unplanned shutdown and a slew of mishaps.
The delay also came as TEPCO was cautious about operations at the No.7 unit as it was the first of the plant's seven reactors to restart.
The No.7 unit has been continually generating power from early November, but it is only now that it has entered its official commercial phase.
TEPCO expects to shut the reactor in mid-April 2010 for planned maintenance, a company spokesman said.
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Electricity subsidies to pulp and paper mills to continue, despite NB Power's rising debt
FREDERICTON - An effort to fix NB Power's struggling finances that is supposed to involve a look at "all options" will not include a review of the policy that requires the utility to subsidize electricity prices for six New Brunswick pulp and paper mills, according to the Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development.
The program is meant "to enable New Brunswick's pulp and paper companies have access to competitive priced electricity," said the department's communications officer Nick Brown in an email Monday
"Keeping our large industries competitive with other Canadian jurisdictions is important," he wrote, knocking down the idea the subsidy…
