The Tomari nuclear power plant in Hokkaido (Asahi Shimbun file photo)Operators of three nuclear reactors currently shut down for regular inspections have said that they plan to restart their facilities despite growing safety concerns.
The Hokkaido Electric Power Co., Kansai Electric Power Co. and Chubu Electric Power Co. released their business projections for the fiscal year ending in March 2012 and said they will resume operations, although the accident at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant is clear evidence that nuclear facilities are susceptible to a huge earthquake and tsunami, despite safety measures.
Chubu Electric said it is aiming to restart the No. 3 reactor at its Hamaoka plant in July, while the two other utilities did not mention when they will fire up their reactors. It is possible that Hokkaido Electric and Kansai Electric will restart their reactors--the No. 3 reactor at the Tomari plant in Tomari village in Hokkaido and the No. 1 reactor at the Oi plant in Oi town in Fukui Prefecture, respectively--earlier than the reactor at the Hamaoka plant, if they are cleared by the government.
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