Electric utility Shikoku Electric Power has postponed its planned maintenance work at its 450MW No 3 unit at the Anan plant in Japan, which was originally scheduled from 3 September to 9 September this year.

The oil-fired unit is expected to resume operations by mid-January 2012.

The utility will purchase 130MW of power to ramp up supplies and discontinue 25MW of power assistance to Kansai Electric Power by 3 September.

Shikoku Electric expects to take a decision to restart the mothballed 220MW No 2 unit at the Anan plant to meet peak winter demand.

In addition, the utility’s 566MW No 1 reactor at its Ikata nuclear plant will undergo planned maintenance next week and will resume operations on 16 November, reports Reuters.