Japanese court approves extension of aging nuclear reactors

ISTANBUL

A court in Japan approved Friday extending the operations of three nuclear reactors on the Sea of Japan coast beyond the usual 40-year service limit, Kyodo News reported.

The Nagoya District Court ruled in favor of allowing the continued operation of the No. 1 and No. 2 reactors at the Takahama nuclear plant and the No. 3 reactor at the Mihama plant -- all located in Fukui Prefecture.

Presiding Judge Ryo Kenmochi stated that the court "does not recognize any unreasonable points in the Nuclear Regulation Authority's assessments or conclusions."

All three reactors began operation in the 1970s and met the stricter safety regulations introduced after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident. They were approved in 2016 for an extension of up to 20 years beyond the original service limit.

The most recent lawsuit was filed in 2016, claiming that the regulator made mistakes in its safety assessments of the reactors.

However, the court rejected that argument, as the presiding judge said the "validity including that of outside experts was confirmed."

The court’s decision marked the first decision in lawsuits aimed at revoking approvals for reactor operation extensions.

After the 2011 accident, the government implemented regulations stipulating that nuclear units can operate for up to 40 years, with the possibility of extending operation to 60, subject to approval by regulators.