In a controversial move, Japan has restarted operations at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant, the world’s largest nuclear facility, for the first time since the 2011 Fukushima disaster forced the country to shut down all of its reactors. The decision to restart reactor number 6 at the plant, located northwest of Tokyo, comes despite safety concerns from local residents.
Japan, heavily reliant on energy imports, was an early adopter of nuclear power. However, the 2011 Fukushima meltdown, triggered by a powerful earthquake, led to one of the worst nuclear disasters in history and turned public opinion against nuclear energy. The country has since spent the past decade trying to revive its nuclear power ambitions, with 15 out of 33 operable reactors restarted since 2015.
The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant is the first of those owned by the Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco), the operator of the Fukushima Daiichi plant, to be turned back on. Before 2011, nuclear power accounted for nearly 30% of Japan’s electricity, and the country had planned to increase that to 50% by 2030. Now, the government’s goal is for nuclear power to provide 20% of its electricity needs by 2040, which experts say may be a challenging target.
The restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant has reignited concerns about nuclear safety, especially in the wake of recent scandals involving data manipulation and mishandling of documents at the facility. Critics argue that the emphasis on nuclear energy has come at the expense of investing in renewable sources, and that the costs of running the reactors have surged due to new safety requirements.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who took office in October, has emphasised the importance of nuclear power for Japan’s energy self-sufficiency, particularly as the country expects a surge in energy demand from data centres and semiconductor manufacturing. However, the government’s financial support for the nuclear industry is a delicate balancing act, as it risks backlash from households already struggling with rising energy costs.
As Japan tries to revive its nuclear power ambitions, the spectre of the Fukushima disaster continues to loom large. Thousands of residents have filed lawsuits against Tepco and the government, and many remain opposed to the restart of nuclear plants. While the authorities claim the new safety measures can withstand even a similar earthquake and tsunami, some experts warn that the plans may not be adequate for the unexpected threats posed by climate change.
The restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant is a significant step in Japan’s nuclear power revival, but it also highlights the ongoing challenges and public mistrust the country faces in its pursuit of a nuclear-powered future.
