Local News

Even though the resumption of operation of the Oi nuclear power plants in Fukui Prefecture will help alleviate power shortages this summer, Kyushu Electric Power is maintaining its request for a minimum of 10% in cutbacks, and also remains prepared to implement rolling blackouts. They have submitted an application to the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency for stress tests to be conducted on five of their six nuclear reactors, which is a condition for their restart. Test procedures have been stalled, however, due to the lack of progress in the Diet on creating a new nuclear regulatory agency.