Japan Moves Nearer to Restarting the Globe's Biggest Nuclear Power Plant
Officials are moving toward giving the go-ahead for the reactivation of the planet's biggest nuclear power plant—marking the initial occasion it would be running since the 2011 Fukushima disaster.
Hideyo Hanazumi, head of the Niigata prefecture where the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa atomic station is situated, announced he has approved for the partial restart.
The plan to resume operations at the plant, operated by utility company Tepco, must obtain consent from the local government assembly and the Japanese nuclear oversight body before it can advance.
Should it be authorized, it would be the first time the utility company would be authorized to restart atomic reactor activities in Japan since its Fukushima facility suffered a core meltdown in the wake of a tsunami.
Regional Inhabitants Split on Restart
People living in Niigata are split over whether the plant should be restarted or not.
The governor stated at a media event on Friday that his decision would be debated in December at a regional assembly, where he would pursue the body's consent.
The authorization would be for the resumption of activities at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant's Reactor 6, followed by the Reactor 7.
Background and Corporate Recovery Plan
The restart of activities at the plant is part of the utility's business reconstruction plan following the Fukushima meltdown, which was resulted from a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and enormous surge.
When the facility's atomic cores were inundated by the surge, it resulted in the release of radiation and forced 150,000 people to be moved from the area.
The Japanese government directed all its nuclear power plant reactors to be deactivated in that year after the disaster. Since then, a number of reactors have been reactivated.
The company was instructed to pay massive sums in damages to those affected and is also paying for the facility's shutdown expenses.
Local Sentiment and Concerns
A survey issued by the region in the previous month showed that 50% of its inhabitants favored the facility's resumption, while 47% were opposed. It also indicated that almost seven in ten of residents in the prefecture were concerned about the utility managing the facility.
Power Goals and Future
Friday's decision illustrates a interest among certain groups in the country to move towards greater utilization of nuclear power to reduce reliance on carbon-based fuels, as the nation aims for a goal of net zero carbon emissions.
