Japan Moves to Restart Largest Nuclear Power Plant After 15 Years
Japan is preparing to restart part of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant after regional lawmakers approved measures clearing the way for operations to resume, Japanese media reported.
The Niigata prefectural assembly on Monday endorsed a plan allowing Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. (TEPCO) to bring the facility’s No. 6 reactor back online, with power generation expected to begin as early as Jan. 20. Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, located about 140 miles northwest of Tokyo, is the world’s largest nuclear power station by capacity.
The move underscores Japan’s gradual shift back toward nuclear energy more than a decade after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami triggered a meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, leading to the shutdown of all 54 reactors nationwide. Rising fuel import costs and concerns about energy security have since prompted the government to reconsider the role of nuclear power in its energy mix.
TEPCO says it has implemented extensive safety upgrades at the site, including higher seawalls, reinforced watertight doors, mobile backup generators and improved filtration systems. The utility has also pledged about 100 billion yen ($670 million) in investments for Niigata Prefecture over the next 10 years to support local development and disaster preparedness.
“We are determined to ensure that an accident like Fukushima never happens again,” TEPCO spokesperson Masakatsu Takata said.
Public opposition, however, remains strong. Residents and activists staged protests outside the assembly, citing lingering distrust of the nuclear industry and concerns over evacuation plans in the event of an emergency.
The central government, led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, argues that nuclear power is critical to meeting growing electricity demand, including from energy-intensive artificial intelligence data centers. Officials have set a target of having nuclear energy account for about 20% of Japan’s electricity generation by 2040.
Japan’s nuclear revival is being closely watched by other countries, including Türkiye, as governments weigh energy security, climate goals and public safety concerns amid rising global demand for power.
