Genkai reactor resumes power generation

A reactor at the Genkai nuclear plant in Saga Prefecture, southwestern Japan, has resumed power generation after a nearly monthlong stoppage.

The resumption at the plant's No. 4 reactor took place on Wednesday afternoon. The reactor had stopped generating power automatically on October 4th due to a procedural error.

The plant's operator, Kyushu Electric Power Company, restarted the reactor on Tuesday after getting the go-ahead from the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency.

Kyushu Electric plans to gradually increase the amount of power generated and return to normal operation by Friday.

The plant is the first in Japan to resume operation after the March accident at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

The reactor is scheduled to be stopped for a regular inspection next month.

Wednesday, November 02, 2011 17:01 +0900 (JST)