Fukushima fallout led Japan to limit nuclear reactors' life to 40 years
The Japanese government announced to introduce a new law, when enforced, would limit the life of a nuclear reactor to 40 years, and requires operators to plan for worst-case scenarios.
Goshi Hosono announced the steps on January 6th, as part of a revamp of nuclear-safety legislation the government aims to submit to parliament early this year.
Important amendments in Japan's legislation include "a mandate that plants come up with plans to deal with worst-case scenarios, a limit of reactors' operational life to 40 years and a requirement that older facilities be retrofitted according to the most up-to-date practices. Those reforms reflect the lessons of the accident noted by Japanese and international experts, including the independent panel's interim report," Hosono said.
The proposed 40-year limit on individual reactor operation would be a first for Japan, according to the Wall Street Journal, and would be similar to standards in the US.
Operators would be able to seek an extension provided the facility passed certain requirements, including an estimation of how much the facility had deteriorated through its lifetime and the operator's technological capability to safely maintain it. These measures are akin to those in the US, which has given about two-thirds of its reactor fleet for 20-year extensions following their initial 40-year licenses.
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