Another Hokkaido Thermal Plant Unit to Restart ahead of Schedule

September 21, 2018

Sapporo- Hokkaido Electric Power Co. said Thursday that the No. 2 unit at its earthquake-hit major thermal power plant will resume operations as early as Sunday.

The restart of the 600,000-kilowatt unit at the Tomato-Atsuma plant comes earlier than initially planned mid-October.

The move is expected to further promote the stable electricity supply in the northern Japan prefecture of Hokkaido, which was hit by a powerful earthquake on Sept. 6.

The quake caused the plant to shut down, leaving the prefecture without electricity. On Wednesday, the plant's 350,000-kilowatt No. 1 unit was brought back online.

Hokkaido Electric moved forward the restart of the No. 2 unit after restoration work for 12 quake-damaged pipes went more smoothly than expected, the company said.

The No. 2 unit has completed checkups necessary for the restart and will start test operations soon, according to the company.

The plant's remaining 700,000-kilowatt No. 4 unit is scheduled to resume operations in November or later as planned, according to Hokkaido Electric. Jiji Press