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Japan Clears Restart of World’s Largest Nuclear Plant
Japan has approved the restart of the world’s largest nuclear power plant for the first time since Fukushima, aiming to cut fossil fuel dependence while facing lingering public safety concerns.
Enoshima, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan by Unsplash
Japanese authorities have approved the restart of the world’s largest nuclear power plant, marking a significant shift in the country’s energy policy more than a decade after the Fukushima nuclear disaster and as Japan seeks to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels.
Despite concerns among local residents, the Niigata prefectural assembly on Monday approved a bill that clears the way for Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) to restart one of the seven reactors at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant. The facility is located in the coastal and port region of Niigata, about 320 kilometers (200 miles) north of Tokyo on Japan’s main island of Honshu.
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TEPCO plans to bring the plant’s No. 6 reactor back online around January 20, according to Japan’s public broadcaster NHK.
Japan has taken a cautious approach to nuclear energy since a massive 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami in 2011 triggered a nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, the world’s worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl in 1986. Following the disaster, Japan shut down all 54 of its nuclear power stations, including Kashiwazaki-Kariwa.
Since then, 14 of the 33 nuclear reactors that remain operable have been restarted, according to the World Nuclear Association. Kashiwazaki-Kariwa will be the first plant to reopen under TEPCO’s operation since the Fukushima disaster. The company has sought to reassure residents that the restart plan is safe.
“We remain firmly committed to never repeating such an accident and ensuring Niigata residents never experience anything similar,” TEPCO spokesperson Masakatsu Takata told Reuters.
Before Fukushima, nuclear power supplied about 30% of Japan’s electricity. After the disaster, the country increased its dependence on imported fossil fuels, including coal and natural gas, to meet energy demand. Currently, about 60% to 70% of Japan’s power generation comes from imported fossil fuels, which cost the country approximately 10.7 trillion yen ($68 billion) last year.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who took office two months ago, has strongly supported reviving nuclear power as a way to cut energy costs, curb inflation and stimulate Japan’s stagnant economy. Japan is the world’s fifth-largest emitter of carbon dioxide, behind China, the United States, India and Russia, according to the International Energy Agency. The country has pledged to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
Renewable energy plays a central role in Japan’s latest energy plan published earlier this year, with increased investment in solar and wind power. However, energy demand is expected to rise in coming years due to the rapid growth of energy-intensive data centers supporting artificial intelligence infrastructure. To meet its energy and climate goals, Japan aims to double nuclear power’s share of its electricity mix to 20% by 2040.
Memories of the Fukushima disaster remain strong, and opposition persists among some local residents due to safety concerns. Ayako Oga, 52, who relocated to Niigata after fleeing Fukushima, told Reuters she cannot dismiss the risk of another nuclear accident. She said her former home remains inside the exclusion zone and that she continues to struggle with post-traumatic stress-like symptoms.
A survey published by the Niigata prefectural government in October found that 60% of residents believed conditions for the restart had not been met, while nearly 70% expressed concern about TEPCO operating the plant, according to Reuters.
TEPCO said on its website that Kashiwazaki-Kariwa has undergone multiple inspections and safety upgrades and that the company has learned “the lessons of Fukushima.” The utility said new seawalls and watertight doors provide stronger protection against tsunamis, while mobile generators and additional fire trucks would be available to support cooling in emergencies. The plant has also been equipped with upgraded filtering systems designed to control the spread of radioactive materials.
In late October, TEPCO conducted what it described as a full round of integrity checks at Unit 6 and declared the reactor fit for startup. The extensive safety measures underscore the importance of using reliable, certified equipment in high-risk environments, similar to how climbers trust PETZL’s MGO Open 60 Auto-Locking Carabiner for Climbing to ensure safety and secure operations in critical situations.
