Restarting Japan’s nuclear power plants some way off

Meeting tough new technical requirements will take time.

Shunichi Tanaka, the new chairman of the Nuclear Regulation Authority, the nuclear industry watchdog, noted that new and tougher technical standards will come into force on July 8, and pave the way for nuclear operators to restart their reactors.

The new standards require equipment upgrades and more comprehensive measures to prevent or contain severe incidents like meltdowns or fires, and protect against earthquakes, tsunami and terrorist attacks.

Tanaka said, however, that just meeting the new technical requirements will not be enough to get reactors switched back on.

"The actual resumption of nuclear reactors will come only after operators and political leaders gain the understanding of the host communities," Tanaka said.

Tanaka hopes the strict new standards would eventually foster a real safety culture among utilities that sometimes opt for complying with only the bare legal minimum.