1. Japan’s largest nuclear power plant, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, could be nearing a restart after being offline since the 2011 Fukushima disaster.
2. Japan’s minister of Economy, Trade and Industry requested permission from the governor of Niigata Prefecture to restart the first of seven reactors at the facility.
3. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that 12 reactors have already returned to commercial operation in Japan, with more planning for a restart, including Units 6 and 7 at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa.
The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Japan, the largest in the world, could potentially be restarted after being taken offline following the 2011 Fukushima disaster. The Japanese government, led by Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry Takeshi Saito, has requested permission from local officials in Niigata Prefecture, where the plant is located, to restart one of its seven reactors. This would be the first time the government has directly asked for a restart at the facility, owned by Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO).
After the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) in Japan gave permission for a restart at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa in December, a meeting is scheduled between government officials and local authorities to discuss the restart further. The plant, which had been offline for nearly two years after an earthquake in 2007, has already received upgrades to improve its seismic safety.
As of the end of 2023, 12 reactors in Japan have returned to operation, with eight more planning for a restart. Among them are Units 6 and 7 at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, which have passed a government safety review. However, it is unclear whether TEPCO will seek to restart the other five reactors at the plant. The facility, spread over 1,000 acres in Niigata Prefecture, comprises seven reactors with a total generation capacity of almost 8,000 MW.