A Japanese governor has approved the restart of a reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant, the world’s largest, marking a major step towards Japan’s nuclear revival despite lingering local distrust in operator Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) after the Fukushima disaster.
Niigata Governor Hideyo Hanazumi’s decision greenlights the restart of Reactor Unit 6 at the seven-unit facility, located on Japan’s Sea of Japan coast. This marks the first such approval TEPCO has received since the multiple reactor meltdowns at its Fukushima Daiichi plant in 2011.
The Japanese government strongly backs the return to nuclear power. It views atomic energy as a stable, carbon-free source crucial for the nation’s energy security goals.
TEPCO sees the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa restart as vital for its operations. Increased revenue from the plant is intended to fund compensation payments for victims of the Fukushima accident.
However, the governor’s decision comes amid significant local opposition. Distrust of TEPCO remains deep-seated among some residents, stemming from the Fukushima crisis and a history of safety lapses at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa.
A public survey conducted earlier this month in Niigata Prefecture revealed divided opinions. Fifty percent of respondents supported restarting Reactor Unit 6, while 47% opposed it.
Crucially, nearly 70% of those surveyed expressed concern over TEPCO’s ability to safely operate the reactor.
Governor Hanazumi will present his approval to the Niigata Prefectural Assembly, which begins its session on December 2. If the assembly endorses his decision, local consent will be finalized, and the governor will inform the central government.
Technical preparations for Reactor Unit 6 were completed in October. This timeline makes a restart possible within the current fiscal year, which concludes in March.
The Fukushima Daiichi disaster in 2011 followed a massive earthquake and tsunami. It led to widespread safety concerns across Japan and the shutdown of most of the country’s nuclear fleet.
Safety issues at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant itself also contributed to its prolonged shutdown. In 2021, Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) imposed a ban on TEPCO moving nuclear fuel at the site due to various security lapses, including unauthorized access incidents.
The NRA lifted that ban in December 2023, paving the way for the current restart considerations.
TEPCO announced in October that it plans to allocate approximately $666 million (100 billion Japanese yen) to the Niigata prefectural government. This funding aims to support local economic revitalization efforts.
The company is also considering decommissioning Reactor Units 1 and 2 at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa facility.