Key Points
- Niigata officials are likely to approve the restart of the world’s largest nuclear plant.
- TEPCO, the company involved in the Fukushima disaster, will operate the facility.
- Japan wants to reduce its annual $68 billion in fuel imports.
- Local surveys show that 70% of residents do not trust TEPCO to run the plant safely.
Niigata officials expect to give the green light on Monday to restart the world’s largest nuclear power plant, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa. This marks a significant shift for Japan as it seeks to resume nuclear energy following the 2011 Fukushima disaster. Since that tragedy, Japan shut down all 54 of its reactors.
While the country has slowly restarted 14 of them over the years, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa is special because TEPCO owns it. TEPCO is the same company that managed the Fukushima plant when it melted down.
The plant sits about 136 miles northwest of Tokyo. If officials approve the plan, TEPCO could start the first of seven reactors as early as January 20. For the Japanese government, this isn’t just about electricity; it’s about saving money and securing the future.
Last year, Japan spent $68 billion importing coal and gas from other countries. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi believes that restarting nuclear plants will keep energy prices down and make the country more independent. Furthermore, new AI data centers are opening across Japan, and these facilities require significant power to operate.
Even though the government is pushing hard for this, many people in Niigata are terrified. A recent survey found that 70% of locals are concerned about TEPCO’s ability to operate the plant safely.
Some residents, like Ayako Oga, actually fled the Fukushima area years ago to escape radiation. She moved to Niigata to start over, but now she feels like the threat is following her. Oga says that every time she hears news about the restart, she relives the fear she felt during the 2011 disaster.
On Monday, the local assembly will hold a final vote. This is the last big obstacle TEPCO needs to clear. If the plant goes back online, it could boost the power supply for the Tokyo area by about 2%. Japan aims to generate 20% of its electricity from nuclear energy by 2040. While energy experts call this a major milestone, many families living near the giant reactors feel like the government is taking a risky gamble with their lives.
