- Regulatory Lift: The Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) in Japan has lifted the operational ban on Tokyo Electric Power’s Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, marking a significant step towards its potential restart.
- Safety Improvements: Tepco, the operator, has made substantial improvements in the safety management system, addressing concerns raised by the NRA in 2021. The corrective action order has been lifted, allowing for the transportation of new uranium fuel and the loading of fuel rods.
- Community and Government Collaboration: Tepco pledges to rebuild trust within the local community, while the Japanese government, emphasizing a “safety-first” approach, commits to seeking understanding and cooperation from Niigata prefecture and local communities, as Japan aims to balance energy needs with safety and sustainability.
The operational ban on Tokyo Electric Power’s (Tepco) Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Japan was lifted by the country’s nuclear power regulator, the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA), on Wednesday. This decision, made two years after the ban was imposed, allows Tepco to move forward in seeking local approval to restart operations at the plant.
Tepco, eager to resume operations at the world’s largest atomic power plant to reduce operating costs, still requires consent from local governments in Niigata prefecture, Kashiwazaki city, and Kariwa village, where the plant is situated. The timeline for obtaining this approval remains uncertain.
The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, with a capacity of 8,212 megawatts, has been offline since 2012 following the Fukushima disaster. In 2021, the NRA barred Tepco from operating the plant due to safety breaches, including failures in protecting nuclear materials and unauthorized access to sensitive areas. The safety management system has since seen improvements, leading to the lifting of a corrective action order that had hindered Tepco from transporting new uranium fuel and loading fuel rods.
Tepco expressed its commitment to rebuilding trust within the local community, and the Japanese government, through Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, pledged to seek understanding and cooperation from Niigata prefecture and local communities, emphasizing a “safety-first” approach.
Japan, with limited domestic resources, aims to reduce its dependence on imported fossil fuels, such as liquefied natural gas (LNG), by bringing more nuclear power plants online. The Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ), predicts a decline in LNG imports, factoring in the potential restart of nuclear reactors and an increase in renewable energy sources.
Tepco’s stocks experienced a surge after the NRA’s indication earlier in the month that it would consider lifting the operational ban following an on-site inspection and discussions with the company’s president.