Japan's largest nuclear power plant to restart: TEPCO works to overcome challenges

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) is preparing to restart the nuclear power plant next month to overcome technical issues that occurred last month. Nuclear energy is becoming an important part of Japan’s decarbonization strategy, and the company’s efforts are attracting industry-wide attention.

Response Reactor Startup at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Interrupted by Electrical Issues

The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant in Niigata Prefecture is Japan’s largest nuclear power plant. On January 21, TEPCO started up Reactor 6 at this facility, but operations had to be halted the next day due to an electrical system trouble. According to Jin10, the company is currently conducting detailed inspections and improvements to fully resolve this issue. Kashiwazaki-Kariwa is one of TEPCO’s few operational nuclear plants, and its stable restart is crucial for Japan’s electricity supply stability.

15 Years Since Fukushima Accident, a Turning Point for the Nuclear Industry

The Fukushima nuclear accident in March 2011 marked a major turning point for Japan’s nuclear industry. Since then, the seven reactors at TEPCO’s Fukushima facility have remained shut down for over a decade. Lessons from the accident have heightened public concern over nuclear safety, and TEPCO faces strict oversight and numerous restrictions in its efforts to restart Kashiwazaki-Kariwa. At the same time, having overcome the accident, the industry is moving into a new phase driven by advances in nuclear technology and strengthened safety standards.

Japan’s Energy Strategy and the Role of Nuclear Power Plants

The Japanese government considers the utilization of nuclear power essential to reducing carbon dioxide emissions and decreasing reliance on expensive fossil fuels. To meet the continuously increasing domestic electricity demand, renewable energy alone is insufficient, and nuclear energy is deemed indispensable. The restart of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant promoted by TEPCO symbolizes this major policy shift.