Japanese regulator approves restart of first nuclear reactors

Japan’s nuclear regulator gave the go-ahead on Wednesday for the restart of a nuclear power station, the first step to reopening an industry that was mothballed after the Fukushima disaster and which may involve the definitive closure of a dozen old plants. The Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) said Kyushu Electric Power’s two-reactor Sendai plant in southwestern Japan could restart, although that still needs the approval of local authorities. Japan is nearing the end of its first full year without nuclear power since 1966 and public mistrust of the sector remains high after the 2011 Fukushima disaster, the worst since Chernobyl in 1986.

[This is] clearly part of the strategy by the government and utilities to send a signal to the people of Japan that they are listening and taking into account the lessons of Fukushima.

Nuclear-power critic Arnie Gundersen, director of Fairewinds Energy Education

The government has been pressing for the restart of reactors that receive safety approval from the NRA to reduce Japan’s reliance on expensive imported fuel. At the same time, the government is pressing regulators to make the tough decision on whether to decommission the oldest of the country’s 48 reactors, which face higher safety hurdles than the rest. A quarter of those reactors could be targeted for permanent shutdown.

I would like to proceed with smooth decommissioning [of some plants] and at the same time the restart of nuclear power stations certified as safe.

Yuko Obuchi, new minister for economy, trade and industry

Asia-Pacific japan nuclear