Nuclear Reactor at Onagawa Power Station, Operated by Tohoku Electric, to Be Shut Down
The Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, has temporarily suspended operations for its No. 2 reactor. This decision comes in response to faulty equipment inside the reactor's containment vessel, specifically devices that measure hydrogen gas concentration during a nuclear accident.
The malfunctions in these devices were detected by Tohoku Electric Power Co. in June 2025. Initially, the utility had planned to replace these devices during a regular inspection in January 2026. However, due to the procurement of necessary equipment, they have decided to exchange all four units ahead of schedule.
The No. 2 reactor at the Onagawa plant is a boiling water reactor (BWR), the same reactor type used at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The devices inside the reactor's containment vessel are designed to measure the concentration of hydrogen gas produced if nuclear fuel and other materials melt during a nuclear accident.
The Onagawa plant's No. 2 reactor resumed operations last October after an approximately 13-year hiatus and then again last December. After the maintenance, it is expected to resume operations in about 10 days.
This suspension is not the first for the No. 2 reactor at the Onagawa plant. It was temporarily suspended earlier due to safety checks and problems with measurement equipment. The reactor's resumption of commercial operations last December marked its return to full operation after the suspension.
The Onagawa plant's No. 2 reactor is a crucial part of Japan's nuclear power infrastructure, contributing to the country's energy needs. The replacement of faulty equipment is a necessary step to ensure the safety and reliability of the reactor, and by extension, the safety of the surrounding community.
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