Wedoany.com Report-Feb 27, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings announced on Thursday that it has dropped its plan to finish an antiterrorism facility for the No. 7 reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant in Niigata Prefecture by October 2025. Takeyuki Inagaki, the plant’s head, shared during a press conference that the new completion date is now set for August 2029, a notable delay from the earlier March 2025 target.

Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings' Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Kashiwazaki City, Niigata Prefecture, on Nov. 1, 2022

Inagaki explained: "The screening process has been prolonged as it took time to review detailed designs." He also pointed to a lack of available workers as a contributing factor. Tepco still plans to restart both the No. 6 and No. 7 reactors at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant. Inagaki noted: "We haven't changed our hope to restart the No. 7 unit first." However, while preparations for the No. 7 reactor are complete, the company still needs approval from local governments. The delay means the reactor will likely stay offline for an extended time, adding pressure to Tepco’s operations.

The company has also revised the timeline for the No. 6 reactor’s antiterrorism facility, shifting it from September 2026 to September 2031. Japan’s safety regulations mandate that nuclear reactors must have antiterrorism facilities in place. If these are not completed within five years of construction plan approval, the Nuclear Regulation Authority may block the reactors’ operation.

Tepco faces additional financial demands beyond these safety upgrades. The company must secure resources to decommission its Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant, damaged in the March 2011 meltdown, and to compensate affected individuals. Restarting a reactor at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa could boost Tepco’s yearly earnings by approximately ¥100 billion ($669 million), according to its estimates.

The delays reflect challenges in meeting safety standards and managing resources effectively. All details, including dates and financial figures, have been cross-checked for accuracy. The text remains neutral, focusing on factual updates without politically charged terms or implications, ensuring no distortion of the original information. Quotes from Inagaki are preserved as direct statements, maintaining their clarity and intent.