The governor of the Japanese prefecture that is home to the world’s largest nuclear power plant is set to give approval for its restart, local media reported on Wednesday.
The approval will clear the final hurdle in Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings’ quest to bring the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant back online, more than a decade after the Fukushima nuclear disaster led to its shutdown.
Niigata Prefecture Governor Hideyo Hanazumi is expected to announce his approval to partially resume operations at the plant, according to Kyodo news agency, which cited unnamed sources in the prefectural government.
Hanazumi will consult the prefectural assembly on his decision during its upcoming regular session. If the assembly endorses his move, he is expected to formally respond to the national government’s request to approve the restart, the Nikkei business daily reported.
TEPCO plans to bring online the largest units of the plant and may decommission some of the remaining units. In recent months, the company completed checks at a reactor after fuel loading, saying it had confirmed that the main systems needed for startup were functioning properly.
The company has also pledged substantial financial support to local communities to build acceptance for the restart, which it has sought for many years despite pockets of opposition.
If approved, the restart would align with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s push to support more nuclear restarts to strengthen national energy security.
A partial restoration of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa would also help reduce Japan’s dependence on imported liquefied natural gas, as the government prioritises lowering living costs.
Japan has restarted several reactors under stricter safety regulations introduced after the Fukushima disaster, though only a portion of the fleet is currently operating compared to the pre-disaster period.
Analysts say that restarting a reactor at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa could meaningfully reduce Japan’s future LNG demand.
TEPCO has paid out large amounts in compensation following the Fukushima reactor meltdown, and restarting a reactor at the plant would significantly strengthen its annual financial position, according to the company.
(Reuters)