Japan’s largest nuclear site returns to commercial operations

Japan has commenced commercial operations at the world’s largest nuclear power facility, marking a significant step in the country’s gradual return to nuclear energy.

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) announced that one of the reactor units at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station has officially entered commercial service.

The unit in question is the plant’s sixth reactor, which was restarted in January. Since then, it has undergone a series of technical inspections and intermittent shutdowns. The start of commercial operations had initially been scheduled for March 18 but was delayed after an emergency alarm was triggered due to wear in a component of the grounding system. No radiation leaks were detected.

Located in Niigata Prefecture, the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa facility comprises seven reactors with a combined capacity of 8.2 gigawatts, making it the largest nuclear power station in the world.

Japan’s nuclear sector was effectively halted following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, after which all 54 reactors in the country were shut down. In the years since, authorities have progressively allowed reactors to restart under stricter safety standards. Currently, 14 reactors are operational nationwide, with plans for further gradual increases.

By Vafa Guliyeva