Japan proposes law to limit life of nuclear reactors to 40 years

2012-01-07 10:40:36 GMT+7 (ICT)

TOKYO (BNO NEWS) -- The Japanese government on Friday announced it plans to introduce a new law which will limit the service life of nuclear reactors to 40 years, an official told NHK Television.

The draft law proposes that the government will not allow reactors to operate for more than 40 years, but may grant extensions on request. Such extensions would be subject to government checks on the obsolescence of the facility, and the plant operator's capacity to provide appropriate maintenance.

Nuclear crisis minister Goshi Hosono told NHK Television that the proposed 40-year limit is included in new draft regulations on nuclear reactors and nuclear fuel material. He said the government will also revise safety standards in regards to earthquakes, tsunamis and other disasters and require power companies to take more measures to prevent accidents.

The draft law is the first time that the Japanese government is attempting to regulate the lifespan of nuclear plants. The bill is expected to be submitted to parliament by the end of this month.

Japan has been facing an ongoing nuclear crisis since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, which is operated by the Tokyo Electric Power Co. (Tepco), was severely damaged on March 11, 2011, when a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and a subsequent tsunami devastated the country. The disaster disabled the cooling systems of the plant and radioactive elements leaked into the sea and were later found in water, air and food products in some parts of the country.

At least 15,839 people were killed as a result of the earthquake and tsunami while 3,642 others remain missing. There are still tens of thousands of people who are staying in shelters in 21 prefectures across Japan.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2012-01-07

I think there are a few other things surrounding the nuclear plants in Japan that they might want to consider limiting.