Shikoku Electric to halt Ikata nuclear plant for checks

Shikoku Electric Power Co. halted the No.1 reactor at its Ikata nuclear power plant in Ehime prefecture for a three-month scheduled checkup.

This leaves only 11 of Japan's 54 commercial reactors are now in operation.

The suspension also means that only one of the utility's three reactors serving the Shikoku Island in western Japan is now in operation.

The No. 1 reactor is expected to be reactivated on Nov. 16 for test operations and resume regular operation on Dec. 15 after conducting detailed equipment inspections, such as emergency diesel power generators and seawater pumps, in addition to ordinary checks, according to the utility.

But it remains uncertain when it can actually resume operation, given new safety assessment requirements introduced in the wake of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant crisis.

The No.3 reactor at the plant, halted in April also for regular checkup, remains suspended despite initial plans to restart its commercial operations in early August.

The scope of inspections was broadened after the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami crippled Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima Daiichi power plant in March.

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