Kansai Electric Power and Tohoku Electric Power Plan to Participate in Spent Fuel Interim Storage Facility in Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture, Japan

Kansai Electric Power Co. and Tohoku Electric Power Co. have expressed their intention to participate in the use of the spent fuel interim storage facility located in Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture, northeastern Japan.

Currently, the interim storage facility only accepts spent fuel from nuclear power plants of Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) and Japan Atomic Power Co.

After the mayor of Mutsu agreed to consider allowing the facility to accept spent fuel from other electric power companies, the situation underwent a major shift.

Subsequently, Tokyo Electric Power Company and Japan Atomic Power Co. reached out to the other eight electric power companies in Japan that operate nuclear power plants to solicit their interest in jointly participating in the use of the interim storage facility.

The positive stance of Kansai Electric Power and Tohoku Electric Power marks that the scope of use of the facility is expected to break through the original limitation of two companies and open up to more power operators.

As planned, Tokyo Electric Power Company is expected to formally report the results of this intention survey and solicitation to the local government this Friday.