Japan’s largest nuclear power plant, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, is set to restart on Wednesday, despite ongoing safety concerns from local residents. The plant, operated by Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO), has been offline since the 2011 Fukushima disaster. The restart has been approved by the governor of Niigata province, where the plant is located, but around 60% of residents oppose the move, citing concerns over safety and the risk of accidents.
The plant has undergone safety upgrades, including a 15-meter-high tsunami wall and elevated emergency power systems. However, residents and protesters argue that the risk of a serious accident remains, and that evacuation plans are inadequate. A petition signed by nearly 40,000 people was submitted to TEPCO and Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority, expressing concerns over the plant’s location on an active seismic fault zone and the potential for unforeseen earthquakes.
Japan’s nuclear industry has faced a string of scandals and incidents in recent weeks, including data falsification by Chubu Electric Power to underestimate seismic risks. At Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, an alarm system failed during a test, raising further concerns over safety.
The restart of the plant is part of Japan’s efforts to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The country is heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels, with nearly 70% of its electricity coming from coal, gas, and oil in 2023. The government plans to expand renewable energy and nuclear power, with nuclear power accounting for around a fifth of Japan’s energy supply by 2040.
The restart of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa is significant, as it will be the first TEPCO-operated plant to resume operations since the Fukushima disaster. The company is still decommissioning the stricken Fukushima Daiichi plant, a project expected to take decades. The Japanese government has voiced support for the restart, with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi expressing her backing for the energy source.
As Japan moves forward with its nuclear energy plans, concerns over safety and the risk of accidents will continue to be a major issue. The country must balance its need for energy with the need to ensure the safety of its citizens and the environment. The restart of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa is a significant step, but it will be closely watched by residents, regulators, and the international community.
