Search Results

Japan's Nuclear Power Revival Enters Supply Chain Rebuilding Phase, with Spent Fuel and Engineering Capacity as Key Constraints

As Japan advances energy security, reduces dependence on fossil fuel imports, and expands low-carbon electricity supply, the focus of the country's nuclear power market is shifting from mere reactor restarts to a comprehensive supply chain rebuild covering manufacturing, operations and maintenance, life extension, fuel cycle, and waste management. GlobalData estimates Japan's nuclear power generation at 101.0 TWh in 2025 and projects it to increase to 123.3 TWh by 2035. Japan's policy target is to maintain nuclear power at approximately 20% to 22% of the electricity generation mix. Based on total annual electricity demand of approximately 1,050 TWh, a 20% nuclear share corresponds to about 210 TWh, while a 22% share corresponds to about 231 TWh. Compared with the 2025 nuclear generation figure of 101.0 TWh, the estimated gap is approximately 109 TWh to 130 TWh.

2026-08-18

Removal of Highly Radioactive Spent Fuel Begins at Unit 2 of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) said on August 17 that it has begun removing spent fuel assemblies with high radiation levels from the spent fuel pool of Unit 2 at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in northeastern Japan, the site of a severe nuclear accident. Last month, TEPCO removed 28 unused nuclear fuel assemblies from the Unit 2 spent fuel pool. Compared with spent fuel, these unused fuel assemblies pose relatively lower risks. The company plans to complete the removal of spent fuel from Unit 2 by the end of fiscal year 2028. To date, the Unit 2 spent fuel pool contains a total of 587 spent fuel assemblies, of which TEPCO has completed the removal of...

2026-08-18

Safety measure costs after Japan's nuclear plant accident rise to at least 6.606 trillion yen

A survey of 11 Japanese electric power companies shows that the total cost of safety measures required for nuclear plants to meet new regulatory standards following the Fukushima Daiichi accident has reached at least 6.606 trillion yen. Affected by rising prices, this figure has increased slightly from the previous year. About half of the surveyed companies said that rising costs of materials, equipment, and construction have pushed up related expenses, and the total may continue to rise in the future. After the Fukushima Daiichi accident, Japan implemented new nuclear regulatory standards requiring plants to strengthen earthquake and tsunami protection and improve severe accident response measures. Related costs mainly include seawalls, emergency power supplies, filtered venting equipment, and...

2026-08-18

Multiple regions in Japan demand nuclear power operators strengthen safety management and information disclosure

On August 17, Keisuke Yokoo, the new chairman of Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), visited the Niigata Prefectural Government and met with Niigata Governor Hideyo Hanazumi. Yokoo assumed his post in June, becoming the first chairman of TEPCO to come from a financial institution. The meeting is seen as an arrangement for the new TEPCO management, following its official launch, to communicate with local governments on nuclear safety and trust rebuilding. Yokoo stated that, as the party responsible for the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, TEPCO will always bear in mind that there is no end to safety and will continuously improve the safety level of its nuclear power plants. He also expressed his commitment to ensuring the safe operation of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant. Hanazumi said at the meeting...

2026-08-18

Fire alarm triggered for fifth time at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in August; no fire confirmed on site

At 7:14 a.m. on August 18, a fire alarm was triggered on the first basement floor of the turbine building of Unit 5 at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) stated that after fire department personnel arrived and conducted inspections, no fire was confirmed on site at 7:55 a.m. Readings from radiation monitoring stations around the plant showed no significant fluctuations. This was the fifth time a fire alarm had been triggered at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station since the beginning of August. Previously, related alarms had occurred on August 8 at the maintenance building for Units 5 and 6, on August 12 at the emergency diesel generator room for the high-pressure core spray system of Unit 6, on August 13 at the main administration building, and on August 15 at the southwest stairwell of the turbine building of Unit 5. After each of the above alarms was triggered, the fire department confirmed that no fire had occurred...

2026-08-18

22nd Round of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station ALPS Treated Water Discharge Completed

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) stated on August 17 that the 22nd round of ALPS treated water discharge from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station had been completed by the afternoon of the same day (local time). This round of discharge began on July 30, with a total of 7,888 tonnes of ALPS treated water released. According to information released by TEPCO, the total amount of radioactive tritium contained in the water discharged in this round was approximately 1.3 trillion becquerels. This is the 4th round of ALPS treated water discharge from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in Japan's fiscal year 2026. Japan began discharging ALPS treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in August 2023. To date, 22 rounds of discharge have been carried out, with a cumulative discharge volume of approximately 173,000 tonnes...

2026-08-18

4.4-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Fukuoka Area; Kyushu Electric Says No Abnormalities at Genkai and Sendai Nuclear Plants

At around 6:37 a.m. on August 17, an earthquake struck the Fukuoka area of Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, with a maximum seismic intensity of 4, a focal depth of approximately 10 kilometers, and a magnitude of 4.4. Kyushu Electric Power Co. (KEPCO) subsequently announced that the operational status of its Genkai and Sendai nuclear power plants was unaffected, with no abnormalities detected in the relevant units. According to Kyushu Electric Power, Unit 4 of the Genkai Nuclear Power Plant in Saga Prefecture continued normal operation, while Unit 3 was undergoing periodic inspection; Units 1 and 2 of the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant in Kagoshima Prefecture continued normal operation. The company stated that no impact on power supply had been confirmed. During the earthquake, Itoshima City in Fukuoka Prefecture...

2026-08-17

Survey of Japanese 18-year-olds: Nearly 60% support restarting or replacing nuclear reactors that meet safety standards

A survey of young people around age 18 in Japan shows that nearly 60% of respondents support restarting nuclear power plants that meet safety standards or replacing existing reactors with new units; meanwhile, over 70% of respondents have expectations or some expectations for advanced innovative reactors. The 18-year-old awareness survey conducted by the Nippon Foundation asked respondents to choose which of two statements was closer to their own view: one being that nuclear power plants meeting safety standards should be restarted or replaced with new units; the other being that nuclear power should not be relied upon due to accident risks and radioactive waste issues. The results showed that 28.5% of respondents said their view was "close" to the first statement, and 29.8...

2026-08-16

Uzbekistan and Japan Discuss Expanding Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy

The Atomic Energy Agency of Uzbekistan recently held talks with a Japanese delegation, with both sides exchanging views on expanding cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, focusing on nuclear technology, joint projects in related industries, and energy security cooperation. The Japanese delegation comprised representatives from Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC), and ITOCHU Corporation, led by Abe Yoshimitsu, Deputy Director of the Nuclear Energy International Cooperation Office at METI. During the talks, both sides explored possibilities for advancing cooperation in nuclear technology applications, collaboration in related industries, and experience exchange. The Japanese side expressed its willingness to continue dialogue with Uzbekistan in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy on the basis of mutual respect and common interests, and to promote practical cooperation. The Atomic Energy Agency of Uzbekistan (Uzatom) stated that it would continue to expand international cooperation with countries and organizations possessing experience in the peaceful application of nuclear technology. Uzbekistan and Japan already have a foundation for cooperation in the nuclear energy and uranium resource sectors. ITOCHU Corporation previously signed a uranium concentrate supply agreement with Navoi Mining and Metallurgy Combinat, and JOGMEC has also been involved in the development of uranium deposits in Uzbekistan. In December 2025, during Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's visit to Japan, both sides confirmed directions for expanding cooperation, including the export of critical minerals and the introduction of advanced technologies. The current talks continue the momentum of bilateral cooperation in the energy and resource sectors.

2026-08-14

Small Amount of Ash Leakage from Miscellaneous Solid Waste Incineration Equipment at Japan's Ikata Nuclear Power Plant

Shikoku Electric Power Co. reported on August 13 that at approximately 10:25 a.m. that day, an operator from a partner company discovered ash-like material beneath the ceramic filter of the operating miscellaneous solid waste incineration equipment inside the miscellaneous solid waste incinerator building at Ikata Nuclear Power Plant. The area is a controlled zone. On-site investigation confirmed that the fallen material was incineration ash, and the leakage was confirmed to have stopped. Workers also found localized cracks in the rubber components of the glove box beneath the ceramic filter. Temporary sealing measures were taken to prevent further leakage. According to the report, the leaked incineration ash remained within the building and was fully recovered. The leakage amount was 0.3 grams, with a radioactivity...

2026-08-13

Shimane Nuclear Power Station Unit 2 restarted and reached criticality

Chugoku Electric Power Co. announced on August 13 that it started up the reactor of Unit 2 at the Shimane Nuclear Power Station at 10:00 that day, and the unit reached a critical state at 12:14. Unit 2 of the Shimane Nuclear Power Station is a boiling water reactor with a rated electrical output of 820,000 kilowatts. Criticality refers to the state in which nuclear fission reactions in the reactor core can be sustained, and is one of the key milestones in the unit restart process. According to the plan, the unit will resume power generation, i.e., synchronize the generator to the grid, on August 18, 2026, and is expected to resume commercial operation on September 16, 2026. Chugoku Electric Power Co. stated that it will continue to prioritize safety and steadily advance all subsequent procedures.

2026-08-13

Shimane Nuclear Power Station Unit 2 completes containment vessel-related repairs, scheduled to resume commercial operation on the 16th of next month

The Shimane Nuclear Power Station Unit 2, located in Matsue City, Japan, is scheduled to resume commercial operation next month. Recently, part of the reactor containment vessel repair work at the unit was opened to the public, showcasing key construction steps before the resumption of operation. Unit 2 of the Shimane Nuclear Power Station resumed operation in December two years ago. Since February this year, the unit has been shut down for routine operational inspections. In accordance with relevant legal requirements, nuclear power units must undergo equipment disassembly inspections and replacement of related components within 13 months after the previous inspection is completed. On August 3, a dedicated crane was used on site to lift a cover weighing approximately 60 tons to the top of the reactor containment vessel. Workers completed the tightening of 120 bolts that day...

2026-08-13

TEPCO and JAPC invite eight power companies to participate in spent fuel transport

August 12 news, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) and Japan Atomic Power Company (JAPC) invited eight other Japanese power companies that own nuclear power plants on the 10th to consider participating in the transport of spent fuel to the Mutsu City interim storage facility in Aomori Prefecture. Mutsu City has agreed to expand the scope of operating entities involved in the transport. The interim storage facility is operated by Recyclable-Fuel Storage Company (RFS), jointly established by TEPCO and JAPC, and is primarily used for temporary storage of spent fuel generated from nuclear power plants before reprocessing. The eight invited companies are Hokkaido Electric Power Company (Hokkai...

2026-08-13

Kyoto Fusioneering and Oak Ridge to Build World's First Fusion Blanket Verification Facility UNITY-3

Kyoto Fusioneering (KF), a Japanese fusion energy engineering company, announced that it will jointly build a facility named UNITY-3 with the U.S. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to verify the breeding blanket technology required for commercial fusion power plants. The project is described as the world's first facility dedicated to breeding blanket demonstration, and KF will also relocate its U.S. business base to Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The project has received support from the U.S. Department of Energy's relevant roadmap, Tennessee's nuclear energy supply chain investment fund, and the DOE, indicating that the fusion industry is shifting from purely plasma physics breakthroughs toward engineering, system integration, and supply chain development. The breeding blanket is a critical component for deuterium-tritium fusion power...

2026-08-12

Japan's Mutsu Spent Fuel Interim Storage Facility May Expand Participants; KEPCO and Hokuriku Electric Power Say They Are Considering

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) and Japan Atomic Power Company (JAPC) began contacting eight other domestic electric power companies that own nuclear power plants on August 10, asking whether they would be interested in participating in the expansion of the entities responsible for transporting spent fuel to the interim storage facility in Mutsu City, Aomori Prefecture. Among the eight companies contacted, Kansai Electric Power Company (KEPCO) and Hokuriku Electric Power Company indicated in response to the inquiries that they are considering whether to participate. In December 2025, TEPCO and JAPC had submitted a proposal to Aomori Prefecture and Mutsu City regarding the expansion of operating entities, and at that time they had also sought the intentions of these eight companies...

2026-08-12