Japan lifts ban on world’s largest nuclear power plant

Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) has officially lifted a two-year operational ban on Tokyo Electric Power Company’s (TEPCO) Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant. The decision comes after the plant, with an impressive capacity of 8,212 megawatts, had been offline since the 2011 Fukushima disaster necessitated the shutdown of all nuclear power plants in Japan.

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TEPCO now has the opportunity to resume efforts to restart the world’s largest atomic power plant, a move aimed at reducing operating costs. However, the journey toward reactivation is contingent on obtaining local consent in Niigata prefecture.

The lifting of the operational ban, initiated at the NRA’s weekly meeting, is a result of on-site inspections and discussions with TEPCO’s president, signaling the authority’s satisfaction with safety improvements. This decision allows TEPCO to transport and place new fuel into the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant’s reactors, a crucial step in the process of restarting the massive nuclear power complex.

The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant has faced challenges, including decommissioning the Fukushima plant and compensating residents affected by the 2011 disaster. The ban, imposed in 2021 due to safety concerns at the plant, particularly its response to a 2007 earthquake, strained relations with local municipalities.

TEPCO, expressing a commitment to rebuilding trust with the community, acknowledges the importance of safety-first measures. The Japanese government, under Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, has shifted its stance on nuclear energy, reversing the phase-out plan and aiming to use atomic power for over one-fifth of the country’s energy supply to achieve decarbonization targets.

TEPCO faces the ongoing challenge of continually improving safety precautions, with reactor restarts requiring consent from nearby residents. The Niigata governor and the Japanese government both stress the importance of considering the will of the voters in aligning with the country’s broader energy goals.

The lifting of the ban is viewed as a significant step forward, emphasizing the delicate balance between energy needs, safety, and community trust in Japan’s nuclear landscape.