Japan Extends Deadline for Anti-Terror Facilities at Nuclear Plants

• •Japan's NRA has extended the deadline for anti-terror facility construction at nuclear plants.
• •The new deadline starts from the commercial operation date, allowing continued reactor operations.
• •Only one of twelve reactors met the previous deadline, prompting the NRA to revise the rule.

On April 1, 2026, Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) approved an extension for the deadline to construct anti-terror facilities at nuclear power plants. The original five-year deadline from safety approval has been changed to start from the first day of commercial operations. This decision affects several reactors, including Tohoku Electric Power Co.'s Onagawa No. 2 reactor, which now has until December 2029 to complete its anti-terror facility, allowing it to continue operations. The NRA's chairman stated that the previous deadline was deemed unreasonable as only one out of twelve reactors met the original timeline. The extension aims to alleviate operational pressures on utilities while ensuring safety measures are eventually implemented. However, the NRA noted that the extension does not apply to plants that have already missed their deadlines. The change is expected to be finalized by summer 2026 after a public consultation period.