Japan is preparing to approve the restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, the largest in the world, this week, local media reported.
The plant, located in Niigata province, was shut down after the 2011 Fukushima disaster. Restarting the plant is part of Japan’s strategy to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels and strengthen national energy security.
Governor Hideyo Hanazumi is expected to announce the decision at a press conference on Friday, according to reports from Kyodo News and Nikkei. Initially, only one of the plant’s seven reactors will resume operations.
Following the Fukushima disaster, all nuclear reactors in Japan were shut down due to safety concerns. Since then, 14 reactors in western and southern Japan have restarted under strict safety regulations. The upcoming restart will be Tepco’s first since the 2011 disaster.
Japan has continued to promote nuclear energy as a low-carbon, reliable source to meet its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. In July, Kansai Electric announced plans to construct Japan’s first new nuclear reactor since Fukushima.
Meanwhile, the decommissioning of the Fukushima plant remains ongoing. In August, technicians deployed remote-controlled robots to remove radioactive debris from damaged reactor buildings. High radiation levels make removing melted fuel extremely dangerous and technically complex.
Experts say the restart demonstrates Japan’s focus on diversifying its energy mix while maintaining stringent safety measures. Nuclear power is expected to play a critical role in meeting Japan’s long-term energy needs and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
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Japan’s government continues to balance energy security, environmental goals, and public safety in its nuclear policy. The decision to restart Kashiwazaki-Kariwa is seen as a major step in reinforcing the country’s energy infrastructure.
