- Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida plans a high-level meeting to secure local consent for restarting Tepco’s Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant.
- The restart of the world’s largest nuclear plant faces significant local resistance. Before proceeding, Tepco needs approval from the governor of Niigata Prefecture.
Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced plans on Tuesday, August 26, for a high-level meeting next week to discuss securing local consent to restart Tokyo Electric Power’s (Tepco) Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant.
The plant in Niigata Prefecture holds the title of the world’s largest nuclear facility. However, it has remained offline since 2012 following the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi disaster. Tepco has long sought to restart the plant to reduce operating costs, but the company still needs local approval.
“The operator and the government must work together to gain local community support for the restart,” Kishida stated during the Green Transformation conference.
In December, Japan’s national nuclear regulator lifted a ban it imposed in 2021 on the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant due to safety breaches. This decision allowed Tepco to begin seeking local consent to restart the plant. Tepco received initial regulatory approval in 2017 to restart two reactors but has yet to secure the necessary local permissions.
Kishida, who will step down in September, emphasised his commitment to advancing Japan’s green transformation. “I will make every effort during my remaining term to advance the green transformation, including preparing for the restart of a nuclear reactor in eastern Japan,” he affirmed, according to public broadcaster NHK.
A ministerial meeting focused on a specific power plant is unusual and underscores the importance of restarting the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant. The plant’s future hinges on securing consent from Niigata Prefecture’s governor, who insisted on further discussions before making any decision in March.
The Fukushima disaster in 2011 led Japan to shut down all nuclear plants. Since then, the country has restarted only 12 reactors as operators work to meet stricter safety standards introduced after the disaster. Tepco pursued approval in 2017 to restart two reactors at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant but has struggled to gain local consent.
Tepco sees the plant’s restart as critical to lowering high operating costs. However, the company faces resistance from local communities concerned about safety. To proceed, Tepco needs the support of the Niigata governor and residents.
Kishida’s push for the plant’s restart forms part of a broader effort to reduce Japan’s reliance on fossil fuels and promote green energy. Nuclear power is crucial in Japan’s energy strategy, and the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant is central to those plans.
However, the quest for local consent presents a significant challenge. The Fukushima disaster left deep scars, and many residents remain sceptical of nuclear power. Tepco continues to face criticism for handling the disaster and ongoing safety concerns.
The upcoming ministerial meeting represents a crucial step in the process. Kishida’s government must balance the need for green energy with concerns from the local community. The meeting’s outcome could shape the future of nuclear power in Japan.
With Kishida’s term ending soon, the pressure mounts to make progress. The prime minister has emphasised that advancing the green transformation, including restarting the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, remains a top priority. The following steps will prove crucial for Japan’s energy future.