Hokkaido Elec to delay commercial ops at No.3 reactor

TOKYO, April 8 (Reuters) - Japan's Hokkaido Electric Power Co said on Friday it would delay the restart of commercial operation at the 912-MW No.3 reactor at its sole Tomari nuclear plant from the original plan for early April, after troubles at Tokyo Electric Power Co's quake-hit Fukushima Daiichi plant.

The No.3 reactor was taken out of commercial operation in January although it resumed running on March on a test basis, and a company spokesman said there was no plan to shut it down before it shifts back to commercial power generation.

The reactor is awaiting trade ministry confirmation that it meets tightened emergency safety measures adopted after the onset of the crisis at the Fukushima plant, the company said. (Reporting by Osamu Tsukimori; Editing by Edmund Klamann)