Japanese regulator plans budget for research on next-generation reactor reviews

The Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) of Japan has included research costs required for reviewing next-generation nuclear reactors in its budget request for the next fiscal year. The funds will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of new safety measures, providing a review basis for potential future construction or replacement applications.

The Japanese government is promoting the development of next-generation nuclear reactors, including "innovative light-water reactors" that further enhance safety performance based on existing light-water reactor technology. Since November 2025, Kansai Electric Power Company (KEPCO) has been conducting geological surveys at the Mihama Nuclear Power Plant in Fukui Prefecture, in preparation for possible future plans to replace existing units with next-generation reactors.

At a regular meeting held on September 2, the Nuclear Regulation Authority's secretariat, the Nuclear Regulation Office, stated that in response to potential future review demands for next-generation reactors, costs for investigating and analyzing the effectiveness of newly introduced safety measures have been included in the budget request.

The work primarily involves analyzing data on passive cooling equipment used in accident scenarios, as well as equipment designed to prevent the release of radioactive materials into the environment. The regulatory body plans to utilize this foundational data in subsequent reviews to improve the accuracy of technical judgments and the efficiency of the review process.

NRA Chairman Shinsuke Yamanaka stated at a press conference that he hopes to collect foundational data on new technologies for next-generation reactors and apply it to regulatory reviews.