The nation of Japan Moves Nearer to Recommencing Operations at the World's Largest Nuclear Power Plant
Officials are moving toward approving the resumption of the planet's biggest atomic energy station—marking the initial occasion it would be operated since the catastrophic 2011 Fukushima event.
The governor of Niigata, governor of the Niigata region where the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa atomic station is based, stated he has approved for the phased recommencement.
The initiative to restart activities at the facility, managed by the Tokyo Electric Power Company, must obtain consent from the local government assembly and the nation's atomic regulatory agency before it can proceed.
If approved, it would be the first time Tepco would be permitted to recommence atomic reactor activities in Japan since its Fukushima facility went into meltdown after a tsunami.
Regional Inhabitants Split on Resumption
Residents in Niigata are of differing opinions over whether the station should be reactivated or not.
The governor told a news conference on Friday that his ruling would be debated in December at a prefectural government assembly, where he would pursue the body's consent.
The consent would be for the resumption of operations at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant's No 6 reactor, then the No 7.
Context and Corporate Reconstruction Plan
The restart of activities at the station is part of Tepco's business reconstruction plan in the aftermath of the Fukushima meltdown, which was resulted from a powerful seismic event and massive tsunami.
When the station's units were inundated by the tsunami, it led to the release of radiation and required numerous residents to be moved from the area.
The Japanese government directed all its nuclear station cores to be closed in 2011 following the disaster. Since then, a number of reactors have restarted.
The company was ordered to pay huge amounts in compensation to those affected and is also funding the plant's decommissioning costs.
Public Sentiment and Concerns
A study released by the region in the previous month suggested that half of its residents backed the plant's restart, while 47% were against it. It also indicated that almost 70% of residents in the region were anxious about the utility managing the facility.
Energy Goals and Future
The governor's approval shows a desire among certain groups in the country to move towards increased use of nuclear power to reduce dependence on carbon-based fuels, as the country seeks a goal of carbon neutrality.
