A Japanese high court has ordered local utility Shikoku Electric Power Company to continue idling its only operational nuclear reactor until the company provides a satisfactory proof that the reactor is safe. The extended shutdown of the nuclear reactor would lead to higher fuel costs for the Japanese utility. Shikoku Electric Power’s only operational reactor at the Ikata nuclear plant in western Japan was taken offline at the end of December for regular maintenance. The utility planned to restart the reactor within two months, but the Hiroshima High Court has just ruled that the utility had not provided sufficient guarantees that the reactor would be safe in case of earthquakes or volcano eruptions. Shikoku Electric Power will appeal the high court’s ruling, the company said on Friday, as carried by Reuters. Because of the extended nuclear reactor shutdown, the utility’s costs on fuel would increase by US$33 million (3.5 […]