Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) revealed during a Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) meeting on January 17 that its application for extending the operation of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Unit 6 nuclear reactor, which recently resumed operation, contained 28 errors. The NRA criticized the application for not meeting the review standards and for lacking adequate explanations, urging TEPCO to promptly correct these errors. This oversight is significant as the reactor is approaching its 30th operational anniversary on November 7, and it will not be allowed to operate past this date without the necessary approvals.

The extension system, which began last year, allows for nuclear reactors to operate beyond 60 years, contingent on evaluations of deterioration and management plans submitted to the NRA every ten years after the initial 30 years of operation. TEPCO presented its application at the meeting, detailing 13 items requiring corrections, 12 necessitating changes or additions, and 3 that failed to meet required documentation standards. The representatives acknowledged the shortcomings of the submission, expressing regret over the inaccuracies.

With approximately nine months remaining before the deadline for obtaining approval, TEPCO is under pressure to rectify the numerous discrepancies in its application. The challenges faced by TEPCO in this regulatory review raise broader questions about the safety and management of aging nuclear facilities in Japan, particularly as the country continues to grapple with the aftermath of the Fukushima disaster and public concerns about nuclear energy.