Japan prepares to restart world’s largest nuclear power plant after modernisation

After extensive modernisation, Japan is preparing to resume operations at the world’s largest nuclear power plant, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa.

Niigata Prefecture Governor Hideyo Hanazumi approved the restart following years of safety inspections and the implementation of additional protective measures, Caliber.Az reports, citing Reuters.

He stated that the measures meet the strictest standards, and resuming the plant’s operation is necessary to ensure a stable energy supply and regional development.

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) is currently completing the final preparations for the plant’s restart, including technical procedures and approval of operational parameters.

Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, situated roughly 220 km northwest of Tokyo, was one of 54 reactors closed after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami devastated the Fukushima Daiichi plant, causing the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl.

Since then, Japan has restarted 14 of the 33 reactors still deemed operable, aiming to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels. Kashiwazaki-Kariwa will mark the first restart under Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO), the operator of the ill-fated Fukushima facility.

On December 22, the Niigata prefectural assembly approved a vote of confidence for Governor Hideyo Hanazumi, who supported the restart last month, effectively clearing the way for the plant to resume operations.

Ahead of the vote, roughly 300 protesters—mostly elderly—gathered outside the Niigata assembly in 6°C (43°F) temperatures, holding signs reading “No Nukes,” “We oppose the restart of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa,” and “Support Fukushima.”

By Jeyhun Aghazada