A draft explaining the direction of the economy ministry's nuclear policy and its action plan was presented to a panel of experts on Monday. The draft would effectively allow nuclear power plants to operate beyond the current upper limit of 60 years.
The draft states that the development and construction of next-generation nuclear power plants will take place when rebuilding power plants that will be decommissioned. It also says it will allow nuclear power plants to operate for more than 60 years by excluding periods of suspension for safety inspections and other reasons.
This would be a change from the current rules for nuclear power plants -- adopted in the wake of the 2011 accident at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant -- under which the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry said it does not envision newly building or replacing reactors.
