Last Tuesday, Niigata Governor Hideye Hanazumi held a meeting with Resei Akadzawa, Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, during which he confirmed his agreement to restart two reactors at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant, the largest in the world.
According to Kyodo, this decision completes all necessary formal procedures for resuming the operation of the power units.
The restart is expected to involve the sixth and seventh reactors, which have been idle since 2012. This occurred after all commercial reactors in the country were shut down following the disaster at the Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant. Hanazumi also noted the need for active outreach to the public, as part of society remains opposed to nuclear energy, especially after the tragic events of 2011.
The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant consists of seven reactors with a total capacity of 8.2 GW, making it the largest in its class. All reactors were shut down in 2012, and the resumption of operations for one of the two approved could begin as early as the end of January 2026.
Before spring 2011, Japan had 54 nuclear reactors that provided about a third of the country's electricity. After the Fukushima-1 accident, their operation was completely halted. In recent years, Japan has gradually been returning nuclear power plants to operation, adhering to increased safety requirements. Currently, 14 reactors are operational in the country, and their number continues to grow.
