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Japan to Develop Bigger, Longer-Lasting Atomic Reactors by 2030
2010-08-17 06:24:11.621 GMT
By Tsuyoshi Inajima
Aug. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Toshiba Corp. and Mitsubishi Heavy
Industries Ltd. are among companies working with the government
on a $645 million project to develop longer-lasting jumbo-sized
reactors by 2030 to replace older models at home and for export.
The government and companies, who also include Hitachi-GE
Nuclear Energy Ltd., will share the 55 billion yen cost of
developing the 1,800-megawatt light-water reactors, according to
a draft assessment report submitted to a nuclear power committee
in Tokyo today. Tokyo Electric Power Corp. operates Japan's
biggest reactors, each with 1,356 megawatts capacity.
Japan is targeting sales to the U.S., Europe and at home,
where 270 reactors will likely be replaced by 2050 after
reaching a 60-year use-by date, according to the report. The
country is also hoping to meet growing demand for carbon-free
generation in developing countries in Asia and the Middle East.
The new reactors will have 80-year lifespans and take less
than 30 months to build, according to the report. Basic design
of the reactors will be completed by 2015, it said.
For Related News and Information:
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--Editors: Alex Devine, Ryan Woo.
To contact the reporters on this story:
Tsuyoshi Inajima in Tokyo at +81-3-3201-2059 or
tinajima@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editor responsible for this story:
Amit Prakash in Singapore at +65-6212-1167 or
aprakash1@bloomberg.net.
