nuclear fuel, which is a mixture of uranium and plutonium, arrived at the wharf of Kansai Electric Power Co.¡¯s Takahama nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture on June 27.

Kepco plans to use MOX fuel in the Nos. 3 and 4 reactors of the Takahama plant, and Shikoku Electric Power will use it in the No. 3 reactor of its Ikata plant. The No. 3 reactor at Kyushu Electric Power Co.¡¯s Genkai plant also has the capability to use MOX fuel.

These reactors are among the 12 pressurized light-water reactors, at five nuclear power plants, whose safety assessment under the Nuclear Regulation Authority¡¯s new safety regulations was requested by four power companies in early July.