Japan’s Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant, the world’s largest, has been largely offline since the 2011 Fukushima disaster, which prompted the shutdown of all 54 reactors in the country. Of the 33 remaining operable reactors, only 14 have restarted. The plant’s No.6 and No.7 reactors together produce 2,710 megawatts roughly a third of the facility’s total capacity. Restarting them would mark the first large-scale return of nuclear power for TEPCO since Fukushima.
Why It Matters
Japan imports 60–70% of its electricity through fossil fuels, leaving it exposed to supply shocks and high energy costs. Bringing these reactors online could reduce reliance on liquefied natural gas and coal, lower electricity prices, provide decarbonized energy, and support growing demand from data centers, semiconductor manufacturing, and other industries. It also signals Japan’s cautious pivot back to nuclear energy.
TEPCO: Operator of the plant, seeking to restart reactors to meet energy demand.
Niigata Prefecture Governor Hideyo Hanazumi: Approved the restart, pending assembly confidence vote.
Local residents: Divided between safety concerns and economic/energy benefits.
Japanese government: Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara support the restart to strengthen energy security.
Global energy markets: LNG importers and commodity analysts monitoring Japan’s reduced fossil fuel demand.
What’s Next
The restart still requires the Niigata Prefectural Assembly’s vote of confidence. TEPCO plans to focus on reactors No.6 and No.7, while some older units may be decommissioned. If successful, the restart could significantly cut fossil fuel imports, lower energy costs, and set a precedent for further nuclear restarts in Japan. Continuous monitoring of safety measures and emergency preparedness will remain crucial.
With information from Reuters.
