Kansai Electric's Dry Cask Storage Project for Spent Fuel at Three Fukui Nuclear Plants Accelerates

Kansai Electric Power Company (KEPCO) plans to construct dry cask storage facilities for spent fuel at the sites of its three nuclear power plants in Takahama, Oi, and Mihama in Fukui Prefecture, Japan, and the local approval process for the project has recently accelerated.

According to local arrangements, in addition to regulatory review, the project requires prior consent from the Fukui Prefectural Government and the towns where the nuclear plants are located. The Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) of Japan has completed safety reviews of the dry cask storage facility plans for the Takahama and Mihama nuclear power plants, while the plan for the Oi plant remains under review.

Takahama Town Mayor Hisakatsu Nishijima explained to the town assembly on August 19 that he intends to express consent to KEPCO's construction of a dry cask storage facility at the Takahama nuclear power plant. He stated that the facility is necessary to ensure the stable and safe operation of the plant. The Takahama Town Assembly had previously requested in July that the town government steadily advance the relevant construction plan. The assembly noted that Nishijima made his judgment after comprehensively considering the assembly's opinions, explanations from the central government and KEPCO, and the views of town residents.

Mihama Town Mayor Hideki Toyoshima had already indicated his intention to consent to the construction of a dry cask storage facility at the Mihama nuclear power plant on August 18. The towns of Takahama and Mihama are expected to communicate their respective positions to the Fukui Prefectural Government.

According to the schedule, the mayors of Takahama, Mihama, and Oi towns will meet with Fukui Prefectural Vice Governor Mamoru Takebe on the afternoon of August 20. The largest caucus in the Fukui Prefectural Assembly has also called on the prefectural government to make a decision promptly. The Fukui Prefectural Governor's office has previously indicated that the will of local communities is one of the important factors in the prefectural government's decision on whether to approve the project.