TEPCO seeks approval to revive world’s largest nuclear plant

A regional assembly in Japan has opened discussions on a partial restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant, which has been offline since the 2011 Fukushima disaster. Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), which operates both sites, is seeking approval to bring Unit 6 back online to support Japan’s energy security strategy.

The plant sits about 300 kilometres north of Tokyo in the coastal areas of Kashiwazaki city and Kariwa village. TEPCO President Tomiaki Kobayakawa said the restart is important for a country that depends on imported fossil fuels for most of its power. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has also backed restarts to reduce this reliance.

TEPCO highlighted ongoing safety upgrades as workers conducted emergency drills. Local assembly member Yukihiko Hoshino said many residents remain concerned about evacuation readiness, pointing to long-term displacement after Fukushima. The Niigata assembly session runs until 22 December. TEPCO hopes to restart the 1,356 MW reactor in January if it secures approval. Unit 7 may follow, while five reactors at the plant could be decommissioned.

Image source: By IAEA Imagebank – 04780017, CC BY SA 2.0.