🔗 Share this article

The country is nearing authorizing the restart of the world's largest nuclear power plant—marking the initial occasion it would be running since the catastrophic 2011 Fukushima event.

Hideyo Hanazumi, governor of the Niigata region where the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear facility is based, announced he has authorized for the partial restart.

The proposal to recommence functioning at the station, run by utility company Tepco, requires consent from the prefecture's government assembly and the nation's atomic regulatory agency before it can proceed.

Assuming consent is granted, it would be the initial instance Tepco would be authorized to recommence reactor functioning in Japan since its Fukushima station experienced a meltdown after a tsunami.

Local Citizens Divided on Resumption

People living in Niigata are split over whether the station should be reactivated or not.

The governor stated at a news conference on the end of the week that his ruling would be considered in December at a regional assembly, where he would seek the body's consent.

The authorization would be for the resumption of functioning at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant's Reactor 6, followed by the No 7.

Background and Business Recovery Plan

The restart of activities at the plant is part of Tepco's corporate recovery strategy after the Fukushima nuclear disaster, which was resulted from a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and enormous surge.

When the station's units were inundated by the tidal wave, it led to radiation to leak out and forced a large population to be moved from the region.

Japan directed all its atomic energy facility units to be shut down in that year following the disaster. Afterward, a number of reactors have resumed operations.

Tepco was instructed to pay trillions of Japanese yen in compensation to those harmed and is also funding the facility's shutdown expenses.

Local Sentiment and Worries

A study released by the region last month suggested that half of its locals favored the station's reactivation, while 47% were opposed. It also indicated that almost seven in ten of individuals in the area were concerned about the utility managing the plant.

Power Targets and Future

The governor's approval illustrates a desire among certain groups in the country to move towards increased use of nuclear power to reduce dependence on carbon-based fuels, as the country aims for a target of carbon neutrality.