Japan’s nuclear power plants are on the verge of extinction

Nuclear power in Japan faces its moment of truth.

Eagerly awaited by Japan are the results of “stress tests” conducted on two nuclear reactors that should either reassure the Japanese that nuclear energy remains safe, or that other sources of power are needed to replace nuclear energy.

The stress tests are computer simulations of how reactors would withstand massive shocks such as the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that wrecked Japan's northeast on March 11, 2011. The government ordered the stress tests to overcome public opposition to restarting of reactors taken offline for regular checks.

A panel of Japanese experts is currently reviewing the first report on reactor stress tests conducted this week by the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA), the country’s nuclear watchdog. NISA sees the stress tests as an important step in efforts to rebuild public trust shattered by the Fukushima crisis. A positive result could also lead to restarting idled nuclear reactors.

NISA is preparing a report on its findings based on tests run by Kansai Electric Power Company on the No.3 and No.4 reactors of its Ohi nuclear power plant in Fukui prefecture in western Japan.

The Ohi reactors were shut down in July 2011 after developing a technical fault. No radioactive material was released because of this incident, however.

A go-ahead for the two reactors would mark a symbolic breakthrough in the government's and utilities' efforts to avert a total nuclear power shutdown before this year’s peak summer demand season.

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