Japan 's main nuclear regulatory body said Friday that it hopes the two stages of "stress tests" on the nation's nuclear reactors can be completed by the end of the year, checks that are meant to reassure the public after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.

The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency released a draft outline of the tests, which are meant to ensure plants can sustain four types of potential crises: earthquakes, tsunami, a loss of all power systems and a complete breakdown of cooling systems.

The first stage of the tests is to start July 31. These are aimed at ensuring the safety of the 19 reactors that are currently off-line due to maintenance. No firm deadline was given for completing these tests.

The first-stage will identify how much of a safety margin exists over and above the plant's design specifications.

The resumption of operations at some of these plants is considered vital to avoiding further power shortages in the peak summer period.

The second-stage review will be conducted on all plants, including those currently in operation. The review aims to examine up to what levels of quakes or tsunami a plant is capable of withstanding without causing damage to the reactor core. It will also examine to what extent back-up safety systems will be able to cover for equipment damaged in a disaster. The agency hopes to receive reports from the utilities, which are conducting the tests, by the end of the year.

The stress tests are to be overseen by the independent Nuclear Safety Commission, following concerns expressed by nuclear power critics that NISA, as part of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, is too close to nuclear power plant operators.
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