Japan’s largest nuclear power plant set to resume operations

Nearly fifteen years after the Fukushima catastrophe forced Japan to shut down its entire nuclear sector, the country has cleared the path for reactivating its most powerful atomic energy facility.

The Niigata prefectural assembly approved the restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant on Monday through a confidence vote supporting Governor Hideyo Hanazumi, who endorsed resuming operations last month. This decision marks a pivotal turning point in Japan’s nuclear energy comeback since the 2011 disaster that followed a devastating earthquake and tsunami.

The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa facility, situated 220 kilometers northwest of Tokyo, represents the world’s largest nuclear installation by capacity. It was among 54 reactors taken offline following the Fukushima Daiichi meltdown, the most severe nuclear incident since Chernobyl. Japan has since reactivated only 14 of the 33 reactors still deemed operational.

This restart carries particular significance as it involves Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the same utility that operated the failed Fukushima plant. The company plans to bring the first of seven reactors online as early as January 20, according to national broadcaster NHK.

The facility’s combined 8.2-gigawatt capacity could power millions of households. Initial plans call for activating one 1.36-gigawatt reactor next year, with another unit of equal capacity targeted for 2030.

Deep community divisions persist
Monday’s assembly session revealed sharp disagreements within the local community. Approximately 300 demonstrators gathered outside in freezing conditions, displaying banners showing opposition to nuclear energy and calling for remembrance of Fukushima’s lessons.

An October prefecture survey found 60% of residents believed restart conditions hadn’t been satisfied, while nearly 70% expressed concern about TEPCO managing the facility. TEPCO has committed 100 billion yen ($641 million) to the prefecture over the next decade, seeking local support.

Governor Hanazumi acknowledged ongoing safety concerns: “This is a milestone, but this is not the end. There is no end in terms of ensuring the safety of Niigata residents.” He expressed hope Japan might eventually reduce nuclear dependence.

Ayako Oga, 52, exemplifies the community’s trauma. The farmer relocated to Niigata after evacuating from within the 20-kilometer irradiated exclusion zone around Fukushima in 2011, joining 160,000 other displaced residents. Now an anti-nuclear activist, she continues experiencing post-traumatic stress symptoms.

“We know firsthand the risk of a nuclear accident and cannot dismiss it,” Oga told Reuters. “As a victim of the Fukushima nuclear accident, I wish that no one, whether in Japan or anywhere in the world, ever again suffers the damage of a nuclear accident.”

Energy security drives policy
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi supports nuclear restarts to bolster energy security and offset fossil fuel import expenses, which constitute 60-70% of Japan’s electricity generation. The country spent 10.7 trillion yen ($68 billion) on imported liquefied natural gas and coal last year, one-tenth of total import costs.

Japan anticipates rising energy demand despite population decline, driven by expanding AI data centers. The government aims to double nuclear power’s share in the electricity mix to 20% by 2040 to meet these needs and decarbonization commitments.

In July, Kansai Electric Power announced preliminary surveys for a new western Japan reactor, the first such project since Fukushima.

TEPCO shares rose 2% following Monday’s vote, outperforming the broader market.