THE country’s atomic watchdog cleared the first nuclear restart since 2021, a shot in the arm for the government’s effort to increase power generation from the energy source and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority approved yesterday a preliminary report saying Hokkaido Electric Power Co.’s Tomari No. 3 reactor meets post-Fukushima safety rules, according to a live stream of the hearing.
Hokkaido Electric’s president said in March that he expected the unit to restart in 2027.
Although the government recently approved a new energy strategy to maximise the use of nuclear power, restarts of units shuttered following the 2011 Fukushima disaster have been slow.
Fewer than half of Japan’s 33 operable reactors have resumed due to lengthy regulatory checks and upgrades, as well as local opposition.
After a public comment period, the regulator’s report will be subject to formal approval.
The Tomari power station began its operation of the No. 1 reactor back in 1989, while the No. 2 unit began in 1991 – but all three reactors had been halted in May 2012 under the stricter safety regulations implemented in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
The Sapporo District Court ordered the plant remain offline in May 2022 due to ongoing safety concerns. The case is currently still being heard at the High Court. — Agences
