Kyushu Elec reactor shuts after problem

Kyushu Electric revealed the 1,180-megawatt No.4 reactor at its Genkai nuclear plant shut down automatically  following a problem with the unit's cooling system.


The utility has been checking the cause of the trouble, a company spokesman said, adding that it did not know immediately whether the shutdown would have an impact on stable power supplies to its customers.

According to a Reuters report, the unplanned shutdown left the 559-MW No.1 reactor at the Genkai plant as the only nuclear unit currently generating power for Kyushu, and the firm is expected to boost its burning of fossil fuels to compensate.

Kyushu has another nuclear plant, called Sendai, but its two reactors have been kept shut after planned maintenance.

Tuesday's closure reduces the number of reactors still online in Japan to 10, with a capacity of 8,684 MW or 17.7 percent of the nation's total nuclear power capacity.

The Genkai No.4 reactor was originally due to enter planned maintenance by Dec. 26, but the shutdown was brought forward by the problem. The Genkai No.1 unit is due to enter maintenance by Dec. 2.