FUKUI, Jun. 25, 2010 (Kyodo News International) -- Kansai Electric Power (OOTC:KAEPY) Co. has decided to extend operation of the 40-year-old No. 1 reactor at the Mihama nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture for another 10 years, which will make it the longest operating among domestic nuclear reactors, informed sources said Saturday.
The government will formally approve the plan as early as next week, they said.
While Japan Atomic Power Co.'s Tsuruga No. 1 nuclear reactor in the prefecture has entered its 41st year of operation in March, it will be deactivated in 2016.
It is expected that more reactors will have their operations extended beyond 40 years as the construction of new nuclear power plants has not been proceeding as planned.