Court upholds Takahama reactor shutdown order in new blow to nuclear industry

[yuiyoshida]

Court upholds Takahama reactor shutdown order in new blow to nuclear industry

By Aaron Sheldrick and Osamu Tsukimori

National Jul. 13, 2016 - 06:55AM JST ( 21 )

TOKYO —

A Japanese court on Tuesday upheld an order to keep two reactors operated by Kansai Electric Power closed, the utility said, helping keep efforts to get the country’s struggling nuclear industry up and running in limbo.

The decision, which backs a petition from residents living near the Takahama nuclear station in Fukui Prefecture, means Kansai Electric must go to a higher court to try and win permission to get the reactors back online

The move marks the latest judicial impediment to utilities’ attempts to restore atomic power after the Fukushima disaster five years ago. Two out of Japan’s 42 operable reactors are running, but a local governor who won election on Sunday has vowed to shut those units down.

While Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government is keen to restore a power source that provided about a third of electricity supply before the meltdowns at Fukushima, the public remains deeply skeptical over industry assurances on safety.

Residents have lodged injunctions against nearby nuclear plants across Japan and lower courts have been increasingly siding with them on safety concerns.

more http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/court-upholds-takahama-reactor-shutdown-in-new-blow-to-nuclear-industry

[FBaggins]

1. Actually the third ruling from the same court (indeed... the same judge)

He's almost certainly going to be overturned, but has been stalling the process.

The move marks the latest judicial impediment to utilities’ attempts to restore atomic power

This is mostly spin. There have been dozens of court cases like this one in the last few years - with several that have made it to decisions/appeals. This is the only one that I'm aware of that constitutes an "impediment" so far.