The restart of the world’s largest nuclear power plant, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, has been suspended in Japan due to a technical issue. The plant, located in Niigata province, had been closed since the 2011 Fukushima disaster and was set to resume operations on Wednesday after receiving the final approval from the nuclear regulator. However, during the reactor startup procedures, an alarm from the monitoring system sounded, prompting the operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), to suspend operations.
According to TEPCO, the alarm was triggered by a malfunctioning electrical equipment, which is currently being investigated. The company has decided to reinsert the control rods in a planned manner to ensure the reactor’s stability, and there is no radioactive impact outside the plant. The control rods are a crucial device used to control the nuclear chain reaction in the reactor core.
The restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant is significant for Japan, which is seeking to revive its nuclear energy sector to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The plant is the world’s largest by potential capacity, although only one of its seven reactors was set to be restarted. Japan’s nuclear power sector has been idle since the Fukushima disaster, which led to a massive earthquake and tsunami that caused three reactors to melt down.
The decision to restart the plant has been met with opposition from local residents, with around 60% of those surveyed in Niigata province expressing their disapproval. Concerns have been raised about the plant’s safety, particularly given its location on an active seismic fault zone. In 2007, the plant was struck by a strong earthquake, and opponents argue that it is not safe to operate.
Despite these concerns, TEPCO and the Japanese government are pushing ahead with plans to restart the plant. The company has stated that it will focus on identifying the cause of the technical issue and resolving it as soon as possible. The suspension of the restart is a setback for Japan’s nuclear energy ambitions, but the country remains committed to reducing its carbon footprint and meeting its energy needs through a mix of renewable and nuclear energy sources.
The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant is the first TEPCO-run unit to restart since the Fukushima disaster, and its successful operation is crucial for Japan’s energy strategy. The plant’s restart has been closely watched by the international community, and its outcome will have significant implications for the future of nuclear energy in Japan and beyond.
