US EditionJapan to Restart Largest Nuclear Plant
Niigata assembly's approval enables TEPCO to restart Japan's largest nuclear plant, potentially boosting Tokyo's power supply by 2% amid energy security concerns.
- Coming in early 2026, Niigata Governor Hideyo Hanazumi approved the restart of KK's Unit 6, with TEPCO planning to bring it online around Jan 20, 2026, for a soft launch.
- Tokyo has suffered power shortages in recent years, prompting the LDP-led Strategic Energy Plan to stress maximum utilisation of nuclear power as Japan's energy self-sufficiency stands at 15.2 per cent with nuclear at 10.5 per cent, targeting 20 per cent by March 2041.
- Preparing Units 6 and 7, Tokyo Electric Power Company completed 1.2 trillion yen in upgrades including a 15m-tall seawall, 20 backup generator vehicles, 42 truck-mounted fire pumps, and a 20,000 cu m reservoir.
- The plant's 8.2 gigawatt capacity could supply more than 13 million homes, and TEPCO pledged a 100 billion yen fund over 10 years to support Niigata's local economy.
- Despite engaging over 40,000 residents, TEPCO still faces public distrust and local opposition in Niigata, where 50% support and 47% oppose restart, a Dec 11 survey shows.
57 Articles
57 Articles
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Japan is all set to restart the world’s largest nuclear power point on Monday December 22,2025.Located about 220 km northwest of Tokyo,Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, was among 54 reactors that shut after...
Kashiwazaki Kariwa, among the many locks after the disastrous accident in Fukushima in 2011
The Niigata Prefectural Assembly is preparing to vote on restarting the reactors at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, the world's largest nuclear power plant, despite some residents remaining apprehensive due to past experiences.
Japan to restart the world’s biggest nuclear power plant, 15 years after country’s worst nuclear disaster
Japanese authorities have approved a decision to restart the world’s biggest nuclear power plant, which has sat dormant for more than a decade following the Fukushima nuclear disaster, in a pivotal moment as the country looks to strengthen its energy security away from fossil fuels.
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