高浜原発３、４号機停止へ　テロ対策遅れコスト増―関電

　関西電力は２９日、テロ対策施設の建設の遅れから、高浜原発３号機（福井県高浜町）を８月２日から５カ月弱、４号機（同）を１０月７日から約４カ月、いずれも運転を停止すると発表した。テロ対策用「特定重大事故等対処施設（特重施設）」完成の遅れによる原発停止は九州電力川内原発１、２号機（鹿児島県薩摩川内市）に次ぎ２例目。
　原発停止に伴う代替火力発電などで計３３７億円のコスト増を見込むが、関電は「現時点で料金引き上げは考えていない」（広報）という。夏場の電力需要期のため、供給面でも懸念されるが、関電幹部は「自社電源と（他社）融通を踏まえて確保する」と強調している。（2020/01/29-18:22）

Kansai Electric Power Co. said Wednesday that it will suspend two reactors at its nuclear plant in the town of Takahama, Fukui Prefecture, central Japan, due to delays in the construction of antiterror facilities.
   The Takahama nuclear power plant's No. 3 and No. 4 reactors will be halted for nearly five months from Aug. 2 and for about four months from Oct. 7, respectively, said the power utility that serves the Kansai western Japan region.
   This will mark the second case in which nuclear reactors are suspended due to delays in constructing so-called specific safety facilities against possible terror attacks. Two reactors at Kyushu Electric Power Co.'s Sendai nuclear power station in the city of Satsumasendai, Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, are set to be suspended from this spring.
   Specific safety facilities minimize leaks of radioactive substances in times of emergencies such as terrorist attacks. They include a backup control room for operating a nuclear power plant in the event that the central control room is destroyed in a terrorist attack and filtered vent equipment for lowering the pressure inside the reactor containment vessels.
   The coming suspension is expected to cost Kansai Electric 33.7 billion yen, including expenses for alternative power generation. But the company is not considering raising its electricity rates at this point, a public relations official said.