RE: Japan Coming Full CircleThis was new information to me - the timeline for the re-starts:
Meanwhile, another Japanese utility, Kansai Electric Power Co., recently started up two different reactors. While 43 other reactors remain offline, about 21 re-start applications are now pending with an estimated of 12 units to come back in service by 2025 and 18 by 2030, Japan Forward reports. (The Fukushima accident took out four of the 54 nuclear units. Five of those are now back in service, leaving 43 idled.) I always find the math frustrating, but if I read it right:
54 original Japanese reactors
4 destroyed by Fukishima
50 left
5 are now back in service
2 are now in the re-start process
43 remain idle.
The frustrating info (if accurate) is that of the remaining 43 idle reactors - 21 have applied for re-start so far:
BUT - what I don't like is the timeline of the expectations on those 21
12 units by 2025 = up to 7 years!
18 by 2030 adds another 5 years!
Yikes, that is a slow process - these aren't being built they are just needing to get up to improved safety standards fright - does that take 7-12 years???!!!!.
Previous news reports suggested a bunch restarted by end of this calendar year, and/or more by the end of 2018.....
Sure, that is "back in service by 2025" but why such a long time estimate. That remains a bit disappointing.
I know there are so many under construction world-wide (about 60) but the slow restart process will likely continue to slow the pace of the increase in U demand that we all hope for/expect if they truly take that long to get re-started.....
Hopefully that is "worst case" timeline and max estimated delay .....
Anyone else notice those dates - any industry insider saying the restarts are key should be concerned by those dates....seems slower than anyone reported before...
Curious to see what the other 22 idle reactors plan - are they going to apply for restarts - especially since the similar reactors to the Fukishima ones are also now getting the green light....
Come on Japan, there is slow and then there is SLOW!!!!!!