Utilization factors and accident/failures in nuclear power stations in fiscal year 1984

Nuclear power plants in Japan are in good operation in recent years. The average utilization factor in fiscal 1984 is 73.9 %, a record high thus far. The causes are lengthening of the continuous operation, shortening of the periodical inspection and rise in in-operation utilization factor. The number of accidents and failures reported to the Government in fiscal 1984 is 18, 9 less than 27 in the preceding year. So, the average per nuclear power plant is 0.6, a record low thus far. In any of these accidents there were no influences in the environment. For the former, the trend in utilization factor and the causes in its rise are described and for the latter, the situation of accidents/failures, the rise in operation reliability, etc. (Mori, K.)