Overview

• On July 18, Kansai Electric formally decided to restart geological surveys on the site of decommissioned Units 1 and 2 at its Mihama plant, marking the first step toward potential new reactor construction since 2011.
• The utility will explain its survey plans to local authorities next week as part of community engagement under Japan’s 7th Basic Energy Plan, which endorses next-generation reactors on former sites.
• Kansai Electric stresses that no concrete decisions have been made on building successor or replacement reactors and that construction plans remain under active review.
• After completing the surveys, the company intends to develop a basic reactor design and submit an application to the Nuclear Regulation Authority in line with the regulatory process.
• Securing substantial funding and meeting stringent regulatory requirements will be key challenges for any advanced light-water reactor project at the Mihama site.