A regional assembly in Japan on Monday approved a plan to restart the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, the world’s largest, bringing the facility closer to resuming operations for the first time since the 2011 Fukushima disaster.
The decision followed the approval last month by Niigata Prefecture Governor Hideyo Hanazumi, who endorsed the restart of the plant, which is located in the prefecture.
Kashiwazaki-Kariwa was shut down after Japan suspended nuclear power generation in the aftermath of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that triggered meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
However, Japan has in recent years moved to revive nuclear energy as part of efforts to cut reliance on fossil fuels, achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and meet rising electricity demand, including from artificial intelligence technologies.
The Niigata Prefectural Assembly voted on an extra budget bill on Monday that included a supplementary resolution supporting the governor’s decision. The measure was approved by a majority vote in the 53-member assembly.
With the assembly’s backing secured, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), which operates the plant, is expected to seek final approval from Japan’s nuclear regulator. Japanese media reported that TEPCO plans to submit its request to the Nuclear Regulation Authority before the end of the year.
According to national broadcaster NHK and the Nikkei business daily, the company is considering restarting one of the plant’s seven reactors around January 20.
Governor Hanazumi is also expected to meet Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ryosei Akazawa, on Tuesday to formally communicate his support for the restart.
READ ALSO: Japan Unveils Futuristic Human Washing Machine after Expo Frenzy
The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant has already met Japan’s nuclear safety standards, and TEPCO had been awaiting the consent of local authorities before proceeding. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has publicly expressed support for the continued use of nuclear power.
Japan, the world’s fifth-largest emitter of carbon dioxide, remains heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels. In 2023, nearly 70 per cent of its electricity was generated from coal, gas and oil, a figure the government aims to reduce to between 30 and 40 per cent over the next 15 years.
Before the 2011 disaster, nuclear power accounted for about one-third of Japan’s electricity supply. Since then, TEPCO has gradually resumed operations at some of its facilities, with 14 reactors across the country now back online under enhanced safety regulations.