The Nuclear Regulation Authority officially decided Monday on a new regulatory rule that will extend the life of nuclear power plants to "over 60 years," thus approving a bill to amend the relevant law that sets the current rule.
The decision was made at an extraordinary meeting of the five commissioners, who adopted the measure with one dissenting vote, which is considered rare for an important matter decided by the NRA. The dissenting commissioner expressed concerns over safety.
The current rule limits the operational period of a nuclear power plant to "40 years in principle, 60 years maximum." The new rule would allow the NRA to issue permits for extensions after safety inspections every 10 years or less following the first 30 years of operation, which means plants could remain on line beyond 60 years.
