Shizuoka, March 18, 2025 – The Europe Today: Chubu Electric Power Co has officially commenced the dismantling of a nuclear reactor in Shizuoka Prefecture, marking the first instance of a commercial reactor undergoing such a process in Japan, the company announced.
On Monday, Chubu Electric initiated disassembly work on the No. 2 unit of the Hamaoka nuclear plant in Omaezaki by removing the top lid of the pressure vessel. This phase is considered the third of four stages in decommissioning nuclear facilities.
The lid, measuring approximately six meters in diameter, three meters in height, and 80 centimeters in thickness, was successfully lifted using a crane. However, due to the absence of a designated disposal site for the radioactive waste generated during the dismantling, the company has stated that the waste will be temporarily stored within a reactor building.
In December, the Nuclear Regulation Authority granted Chubu Electric approval to proceed with the third phase of decommissioning for the Hamaoka Nos. 1 and 2 reactors. The company prioritized the No. 2 unit for dismantling after securing a temporary storage site for its radioactive waste. Work on the No. 1 unit will follow at a later stage.
Chubu Electric has outlined plans to commence the fourth and final phase of the decommissioning process—demolishing the reactor building—in fiscal year 2036, with full completion anticipated by fiscal year 2042.
The No. 2 reactor, which began operations in 1978, ceased functioning in 2009. Although the company initially intended to begin dismantling in fiscal year 2023, the start was delayed by a year to assess radiation exposure countermeasures. Additionally, in 2023, the timeline for the dismantling process was extended from six years to 12 years.
The decommissioning of the Hamaoka plant’s No. 2 reactor marks a significant milestone in Japan’s approach to nuclear facility management, setting a precedent for future projects of a similar nature.
