Japan's nuclear power: Niigata reactor set to restart at world's largest plant

A reactor at the Kashiwazaki‑Kariwa plant in Niigata is scheduled to resume around Jan. 20, marking Tokyo Electric Power Company's first restart since the 2011 Fukushima accident. Currently 14 reactors are operating while others await restart approval.

Japan is preparing to restart a reactor at the Kashiwazaki‑Kariwa plant in Niigata Prefecture. The restart, scheduled around January 20, would be the first reactor reactivation by Tokyo Electric Power Company since the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi meltdown. That 2011 disaster led to the nationwide shutdown of reactors and continues to shape safety reviews and local concerns. Officials report that public support has gradually rebounded amid tighter safety rules and higher electricity costs. Key facts: - One reactor at the Kashiwazaki‑Kariwa plant in Niigata is scheduled to resume operations around Jan. 20 after local government approval. - Tokyo Electric Power Company would be carrying out its first reactor restart since the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi accident. - Fourteen reactors are currently operating across Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu; ten more await restart approval and two remain inoperable. - Japan's nuclear regulator announced it had uncovered wrongdoing by Chubu Electric related to seismic data submitted during a safety review of the Hamaoka plant, according to reports. Summary: The planned restart continues Japan's gradual return to nuclear generation as part of its broader energy strategy and follows local approval in Niigata. The immediate next step is the scheduled resumption of operations around Jan. 20; other restarts remain subject to regulatory and local approvals.