Promulgation of Ministerial Ordinance Partially Revising the Regulations for Enforcement of the Electricity Business Act and Other Acts

1. Background

The Act for Partial Revision of the Electricity Business Act and Other Acts for Establishing Electricity Supply Systems for Realizing a Decarbonized Society (Act No. 44 of 2023; hereinafter referred to as the “Revised Act”) was enacted during the 211th ordinary session of the Diet in 2023. The revised act introduced new provisions related to the operation period of nuclear power plants from the perspective of utilization policy (hereinafter referred to as the “Operation Extension Approval System”).

Under the Operation Extension Approval System based on energy policy, the existing framework that sets the maximum operation period at 60 years is maintained. However, the system allows nuclear operators to exclude any period during which operation of a nuclear power plant was suspended due to factors beyond their control from the total count towards the 60-year operational limit.

In line with the Revised Act, METI today established and promulgated the ordinance partially revising the Regulations for Enforcement of the Electricity Business Act and Other Acts (METI Ordinance No. 46 of 2025), to develop the necessary provisions for implementing the Operation Extension Approval System. METI also revised the Review Guidelines for Dispositions by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry under the Electricity Business Act (Document No. 16 of May 29, 2000).

These revisions were made following discussions at the Nuclear Subcommittee of the Advisory Committee for Natural Resources and Energy, and a public comment process was conducted. The results of the public comments have been published.

2. Highlights of the revisions to the Regulations for Enforcement of the Electricity Business Act and the Review Guidelines

Regulations for Enforcement of the Electricity Business Act

• Application procedures for extension of the operating period: Specify the application form and required attachments.
• Succession procedures for approved nuclear power generation business: Specify the application and notification formats and required attachments for business succession due to transfer, merger, company split, or inheritance.
• Procedures for specified nuclear power operators: Specify the reporting form, required attachments, and submission deadline (September 5, 2025) for specified nuclear power operators.
• Effective date: The revised Regulations for Enforcement of the Electricity Business Act take effect on June 6, 2025.

Review Guidelines for Dispositions by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry under the Electricity Business Act

• Specify the review criteria of the Minister for the approval of the operating period extension in accordance with the requirements set out in the Revised Act.

3. Future schedule

June 6, 2025:

Enforcement of the ordinance partially revising the Regulations for Enforcement of the Electricity Business Act and Other Acts and the directive partially revising the Review Guidelines for Dispositions by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry under the Electricity Business Act

Related Links

• Operation Approval System for the Extension of Operation Period of Nuclear Power Stations (in Japanese)

Division in Charge

Office for Nuclear Safety Improvement, Electricity and Gas Industry Department, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy