Japan government sees delay in restart of world's biggest nuclear plant - sources

Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s (TEPCO) Kashiwazaki Kariwa nuclear power plant, which is the world's biggest, is seen from a seaside in Kashiwazaki, November 12, 2012 file photo. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese government officials no longer expect the world's biggest nuclear plant to restart this year, sources said, a delay which deals a blow to turnaround plans for operator Tokyo Electric Power.

Starting the Kashiwazaki Kariwa facility, 300 km (180 miles) northwest of Tokyo, is a pivotal part of Tokyo Electric's (Tepco) attempts to shore up its finances three years after its Fukushima site suffered three nuclear meltdowns.