Japan finally decides Nuclear is ok!

Japan's Nuclear Comeback

1440 News

Japanese authorities have approved restarting the world's largest nuclear plant for the first time since the Fukushima disaster nearly 15 years ago. The decision is part of the country's effort to reduce its reliance on imported fossil fuels.

Lawmakers yesterday passed a bill that allows the Tokyo Electric Power Company to bring one of seven reactors at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant back online as early as next month. The plant was one of 54 nuclear power stations that Japan shut down after a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami, with waves reaching over 100 feet, triggered a nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi plant (see animation) in 2011. Nearly 20,000 people died from the natural disasters—about 2,000 from the meltdown, which marked the world’s worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl in 1986. Japan has since restarted 14 of 33 operable nuclear reactors.

Roughly 69% of Japan’s electricity is generated from imported fossil fuels, which cost the country around $68B last year.

Japan to restart world's largest nuclear power plant

Louis Oelofse with AFP, dpa, Reuters

24 hours ago24 hours ago

After the Fukushima disaster in 2011, Japan shut down all its nuclear reactors. The planned restart of a reactor at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant has triggered protests in the coastal city of Niigata.

Despite widespread public opposition, Japan’s nuclear regulator previously declared reactors 6 and 7 at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa safeImage: Issei Kato/REUTERS

Japan is a step closer to restarting the world's largest nuclear power plant for the first time since the Fukushima disaster.

Kashiwazaki-Kariwa was among 54 reactors shut down after a massive earthquake and tsunami crippled the Fukushima Daiichi plant in 2011.

On Monday, the Niigata prefectural assembly, where Kashiwazaki-Kariwa is located, approved a bill paving the way for Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) to restart one of seven reactors at the plant.

TEPCO, which also operated the damaged Fukushima Daiichi plant, will now seek final permission from Japan's nuclear regulator to restart operations.

Japan increasing nuclear power generation

According to Japanese public broadcaster NHK, the operator hopes to restart one of the seven reactors at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa on Jan. 20, with another 1.36-gigawatt reactor expected around 2030.

Some general facts about the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant:

• It is located about 220 km (136 miles) northwest of Tokyo

• It has a total capacity of 8.2 gigawatts

• This is enough to supply power to several million homes

• A single reactor could boost electricity supply to the Tokyo area by 2%

• Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who took office two months ago, has backed nuclear restarts to strengthen energy security and counter the cost of imported fossil fuels.

So far, Japan has restarted 14 of the country's 33 reactors still considered operationally viable.

Kashiwazaki-Kariwa will become the first nuclear plant operated by TEPCO to resume operations since Fukushima.