Ōma Nuclear Power Plant

Ōma Nuclear Power Station
Ōma Nuclear Power Plant (2019)
Official name	大間原子力発電所
Country	Japan
Location	Ōma, Aomori
Coordinates	41°30′35″N 140°54′37″E
Status	Under construction
Construction began	May 7, 2010 (2010-05-07)
Commission date	2030 (planned)
Operator	Electric Power Development Company (J-Power)
Nuclear power station
Reactor type	ABWR
Cooling source	Tsugaru Strait
Power generation
Units under const.	1 x 1,383 MW
Nameplate capacity	1,383 MW
External links
Website	www.jpower.co.jp/bs/nuclear/
Commons	Related media on Commons

The Ōma Nuclear Power Station (大間原子力発電所, Ōma genshiryoku hatsudensho) is a nuclear power facility under construction in Ōma, Aomori, Japan. It will be operated by the Electric Power Development Company (J-Power). The reactor would be unique for Japan in that it would be capable of using a 100% MOX fuel core, as requested by the 1995 decision by the Japanese Atomic Energy Commission. The fuel would utilize surplus plutonium by blending it with natural uranium, reducing the total radioactivity of nuclear waste and dramatically reducing the waste's lifetime.

In 2008, J-Power announced a 2.5-year delay to allow for additional work to make the plant resistant to a strong earthquake, making the operation start date in November 2014.^[1][2] Following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster of March 2011 construction at Oma was suspended for 18 months. Work was resumed in October 2012. In March 2013, the main reactor building was at its full height.^[3]

In December 2014 J-Power applied for safety checks at the Oma nuclear plant, slated for startup in 2021.^[4]

In September 2016, the commissioning date was postponed again, this time to late 2023 or early 2024.^[5] In September 2018, the startup was postponed until 2026 to allow for expanded screening.^[6]

As of September 2024, the reactor's start has been postponed to 2030 due to delays in the commencement of safety tests.^[7]

References

1. Nakayama, Michio; Sato, Shigeru (November 11, 2008). "J-Power Delays Oma Nuclear Plant Start by 2½ Years (Update2)". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 2008-11-19.
2. "J-Power reschedules Ohma start-up". World Nuclear News. November 11, 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-19.
3. "Work resumes on Aomori's new Oma nuclear plant". The Washington Post. March 12, 2013. Retrieved 2014-02-04.
4. "J-Power forges ahead with Oma nuclear plant despite local tensions". The Japan Times. 2014-12-16. Archived from the original on 2017-03-04. Retrieved 2017-03-03.
5. "Further delay in completion of Ohma plant - World Nuclear News".
6. "Extended screening pushes back MOX fuel plant construction for 3rd time".
7. 日本放送協会. "大間原子力発電所 安全対策工事の開始６回目の延期｜NHK 青森県のニュース". NHK NEWS WEB. Retrieved 2024-10-10.