IAEA approves Japan's nuclear safety tests

Jan 31, 2012, 4:02 GMT

Tokyo - A team of 10 experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Tuesday said Japan's nuclear stress tests are consistent with the organization's standards.

The experts examined stress tests conducted on reactors 3 and 4 at Oi Nuclear Power Station in Fukui prefecture, central Japan. The reactors run by Kansai Electric Power Co have been suspended for regular check-ups.

In a stress test, utilities assess to what degree their reactors are capable of withstanding natural disasters such as an earthquake or tsunami.

On the last day of its nine-day mission, the team submitted its findings on the adequacy of stress tests to Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA).

'The conclusion of the team is that NISA's instructions and review process for the comprehensive safety assessments are generally consistent with IAEA safety standards,' the delegation said in a statement, Kyodo News reported.

Before the arrival of the team, NISA endorsed the positive stress test results for the two reactors. The decision was the first since the government announced in July that safety assessments on reactors across the country would be conducted in two stages in the wake of the disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.

The plant was hit by a magnitude-9 earthquake and tsunami on March 11, which triggered the crisis, leading to meltdowns at three of its six reactors.

Japan's plant operators have been unable to reactivate their suspended reactors because of public concern about atomic power following the disaster.

Only three of the nation's 54 reactors are in operation. All of them are scheduled to be halted for servicing by the end of April.

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