Shimane Nuclear Power Plant Unit 2 Completes Fuel Replacement and Installs Containment Vessel Head

Chugoku Electric Power Co. on August 4 disclosed the installation work of the containment vessel head for Unit 2 of the Shimane Nuclear Power Plant. The unit is currently undergoing periodic inspection, with major procedures such as nuclear fuel replacement already completed.

Unit 2 of the Shimane Nuclear Power Plant, located in Matsue City, Japan, was restarted two years ago. Chugoku Electric Power Co. halted the unit's operation in February this year and has been conducting periodic inspections as scheduled.

To date, all 560 nuclear fuel assemblies in the unit have been removed, and safety confirmation of the reactor core has been completed. Approximately 120 of these fuel assemblies were replaced with new nuclear fuel assemblies, followed by the phase of resetting related equipment and confirming seal integrity.

In the work disclosed that day, a crane lifted a steel containment vessel head weighing approximately 60 tons and measuring about 9 meters in diameter, and installed it into position. This inspection will also confirm that the containment vessel will not leak radioactive materials during subsequent operation.

As scheduled, the periodic inspection of Unit 2 at the Shimane Nuclear Power Plant will continue until the 17th of next month. Chugoku Electric Power Co. plans to resume power generation on the 19th of this month. The company stated that it will continue to prioritize safety and proceed cautiously with all operations before resuming power generation.