The Japanese region of Niigata is poised to endorse a decision to restart the world’s largest nuclear power plant on Monday, marking a watershed moment in the nation’s pivot back to nuclear energy since the 2011 Fukushima disaster.
Why it Matters
The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, located roughly 136 miles northwest of Tokyo, has been idle since the massive earthquake and tsunami that crippled the Fukushima Daiichi plant, causing the worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl. This restart represents a significant shift in Japan’s energy policy as the country attempts to wean itself off imported fossil fuels. Crucially, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa will be the first facility reactivated by Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO), the same utility that operated the doomed Fukushima plant.
What to Know
Japan has slowly been bringing its nuclear capacity back online, having restarted 14 of the 33 reactors that remain operable out of the original 54 shut down post-2011. The restart of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa is viewed as a critical step for national energy security.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who assumed office two months ago, has backed nuclear restarts to combat the high costs of energy imports. Imported liquefied natural gas and coal currently account for 60% to 70% of Japan’s electricity generation, costing the nation 10.7 trillion yen ($68 billion) last year alone.
The government is also looking ahead to future demands. Despite a shrinking population, energy consumption is expected to rise over the next decade due to a boom in power-hungry AI data centers. To meet these needs and decarbonization commitments, Japan has set a target of doubling the share of nuclear power in its electricity mix to 20% by 2040.
Joshua Ngu, vice chairman for Asia Pacific at consultancy Wood Mackenzie, noted that public acceptance of this specific restart would represent “a critical milestone” toward reaching those goals.
What People are Saying
The move has drawn mixed reactions, particularly regarding TEPCO’s involvement. “We remain firmly committed to never repeating such an accident and ensuring Niigata residents never experience anything similar,” said TEPCO spokesperson Masakatsu Takata. To win over locals, TEPCO pledged to inject 100 billion yen ($641 million) into the prefecture over the next decade.
However, skepticism remains high. A survey published by the prefecture in October found that 60% of residents did not believe conditions for the restart had been met, and nearly 70% expressed worry about TEPCO operating the plant.
Ayako Oga, a farmer and anti-nuclear activist who fled the Fukushima exclusion zone in 2011, plans to protest the decision. “We know firsthand the risk of a nuclear accident and cannot dismiss it,” Oga said, noting that news of the restart feels “like reliving the fear.”
Even officials supporting the move express caution. Niigata Governor Hideyo Hanazumi, who backed the restart last month, stated, “I want to see an era where we don’t have to rely on energy sources that cause anxiety.”
What Happens Next
On Monday, the Niigata prefecture’s assembly will cast a vote of confidence on Governor Hanazumi, serving as a de facto ballot on his support for the restart. This vote is considered the final hurdle before operations can resume.
If approved, TEPCO is considering reactivating the first of seven reactors at the plant as early as January 20, according to public broadcaster NHK, though spokesperson Takata declined to comment on specific timing.
Japan’s trade ministry estimates that restarting just the first reactor could boost electricity supply to the Tokyo area by 2%. Looking further ahead, Kansai Electric Power, Japan’s top nuclear operator, announced in July that it would begin surveys for a reactor in western Japan, signaling the first potential new unit construction since the Fukushima disaster.
