TOKYO, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Japan's nuclear power plant utilisation rate stood at 5.3 percent in January, unchanged from the previous month, industry data showed on Friday, underscoring the country's consistent purchase of gas and other fossil fuels from abroad.

The run rate compared with 10.3 percent in January 2012.

Only two of the nation's 50 commercial reactors have been generating power since last July, with no additional reactors set to be restarted until at least July.

A new nuclear regulator is due to order much tougher safety requirements for the nation's reactors from July 2013 than those in force before the Fukushima nuclear disaster in March 2011.

Nine Japanese power utilities and a nuclear electricity wholesaler, Japan Atomic Power Co, have 50 nuclear reactors for commercial use, with total generating capacity of 46,148 megawatts, the world's third-largest.

(Reporting by Osamu Tsukimori; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) Keywords: NUCLEAR JAPAN/UTILISATION

(osamu.tsukimori@thomsonreuters.com)(+813 6441 1857)(Reuters Messaging: osamu.tsukimori.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)

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