The country is nearing giving the go-ahead for the restart of the planet's biggest atomic energy station—marking the initial occasion it would be running since the 2011 Fukushima nuclear incident.
Hideyo Hanazumi, governor of the Niigata region where the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear facility is based, said he has approved for the phased recommencement.
The initiative to resume operations at the station, managed by the Tepco utility firm, still needs approval from the prefecture's government assembly and the nation's atomic regulatory agency before it can move forward.
Assuming consent is granted, it would be the initial instance Tepco would be allowed to recommence nuclear reactor operations in Japan since its Fukushima plant went into meltdown in the wake of a tidal surge.
Regional Citizens Divided on Restart
Local inhabitants in Niigata are of differing opinions over whether the station should be reactivated or not.
Hanazumi informed a press briefing on the end of the week that his ruling would be considered in the final month of the year at a prefectural government assembly, where he would request the body's consent.
The consent would be for the recommencement of activities at the facility's sixth reactor, subsequently the seventh reactor.
Context and Corporate Reconstruction Plan
The restart of activities at the facility is part of Tepco's business reconstruction plan in the aftermath of the Fukushima catastrophe, which was caused by a powerful seismic event and huge tidal wave.
When the facility's atomic cores were inundated by the tsunami, it led to radioactive leaks and forced 150,000 people to be moved from the area.
The Japanese government ordered all its atomic energy facility units to be shut down in that year following the disaster. Since then, 14 reactors have restarted.
The company was ordered to pay trillions of Japanese yen in compensation to those impacted and is also paying for the plant's decommissioning costs.
Local Sentiment and Worries
A survey released by the local government in the previous month showed that half of its inhabitants backed the facility's resumption, while nearly half were in disagreement. It also suggested that almost 70% of people in the region were concerned about the utility managing the plant.
Energy Goals and Ahead
Friday's decision shows a inclination among some in Japan to advance toward greater utilization of atomic power to lessen use of fossil fuels, as the nation seeks a target of carbon neutrality.
