Western Japan may face power shortage this winter if no nuclear reactor works

Kansai Electric Power Co. said there will be likely an electricity shortage in western Japan this winter if none of its nuclear reactors is in operation, Kyodo News reported Friday, quoting sources close to the matter. The Osaka-based utility secured an electricity reserve margin or a power generation capacity excess over usual demand of 4.1 percent last winter as the No. 3 and No. 4 reactors of its Oi nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture were in operation, according to the report. But due to mandatory checks, the No. 3 reactor halted operation last week and the No. 4 is set to follow suit soon. Without nuclear power generation, the company's reserve margin is estimated to become negative, indicating the risk of large-scale blackouts, the report said. With the suspension of the two reactors, none of Japan's 50 commercial nuclear reactors will be online for the second time since the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi plant disaster heightened public concern about the safety of nuclear plants.