Japan’s Electric Power Development Co has decided to delay the construction of its Ohma nuclear power plant indefinitely.
The plant, which is under construction in Aomori prefecture (northern Honshu), was expected to be complete in late 2014. However, construction has been suspended since the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011.
J-Power said in a statement that it is ‘moving ahead to review safety enhancement measures in response to the accident at Fukushima Daiichi’ and that it would incorporate any necessary measures.
Work started on the Ohma plant, a 1383 MW Advanced Boiling Water Reactor (ABWR) design, in May 2008. Originally due to start up in 2012, J-Power amended its scheduled start date to November 2014 towards the end of 2008.
The Ohma plant has been designed to (eventually) run on a full mixed oxide (MOX) core. In 2009 J-Power entered into an agreement with Global Nuclear Fuel Japan to procure the MOX fuel for Ohman, which was to be manufactured in France.
Prior to the Fukushima Daiichi accident, two reactors were under construction in Japan. Chugoku Electric Power Company, which is building the second, Shimane 3, said in its annual report that ‘only a brief duration’ remained until commercial operation of the unit. Recent Japanese press-reports have hinted that prime minister Noda may give permission for Shimane 3 to begin operation.
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