Japan is one step closer to restarting the world’s largest nuclear power plant for the first time since the Fukushima disaster.
Kashiwazaki-Kariwa was one of 54 reactors that were shut down after the Fukushima Daiichi plant was damaged by a major earthquake and tsunami in 2011.
On Monday, the Niigata Prefectural Assembly, where Kashiwazaki-Kariwa is located, approved a bill paving the way for Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) to restart one of the seven reactors at the plant.
TEPCO, which also operates the damaged Fukushima Daiichi plant, will now seek final permission from Japan’s nuclear regulator to resume operations.
Japan is increasing nuclear power production
The operator is expected to restart one of seven reactors at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa on January 20, with another 1.36-gigawatt reactor expected around 2030, according to Japanese public broadcaster NHK.
Some general facts about the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant:
- It is located about 220 km (136 mi) northwest of Tokyo.
- Its total capacity is 8.2 gigawatts.
- This is enough to supply electricity to several million homes
- A single reactor could increase electricity supply in the Tokyo area by 2%
Prime Minister Sanae Takachi, who took office two months ago, has backed a nuclear restart to strengthen energy security and combat the cost of imported fossil fuels.
So far, Japan has restarted 14 of the country’s 33 reactors that are still considered viable for operation.
Kashiwazaki-Kariwa will become the first nuclear plant operated by TEPCO to resume operations after Fukushima.
After Fukushima, local communities remain uneasy
But not everyone is happy with the reintroduction of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa.
About 300 protesters demonstrated outside the Assembly on Monday against the decision.
“I’m really angry in my heart,” Kenichiro Ishiyama, a 77-year-old protester from Niigata city, told Reuters news agency after the vote.
“If something happens at the plant, we will be the ones who suffer the consequences.”
A survey published in October showed that 60% of residents did not think that the conditions for restart were met, and about 70% were concerned about TEPCO’s operation of the plant.
Niigata Governor Hideo Hanazumi, who supported the restart, called Monday’s decision “a milestone” but “not the end.”
“There is no end to ensuring the safety of Niigata residents,” he said.
Edited by: Rana Taha