Tokyo Electrical Energy Co.’s Kashiwazaki Kariwa nuclear energy plant, one of many world’s largest nuclear amenities, stands alongside the seaside in Kashiwazaki, Niigata prefecture, Japan, Dec. 21. Reuters-Yonhap
NIIGATA, Japan — The Japanese area of Niigata is anticipated to endorse a call to restart the world’s largest nuclear energy plant on Monday, a watershed second within the nation’s pivot again to nuclear for the reason that 2011 Fukushima catastrophe.
Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, positioned about 220 kilometers (136 miles) northwest of Tokyo, was amongst 54 reactors shut after a large earthquake and tsunami crippled the Fukushima Daiichi plant within the worst nuclear catastrophe since Chernobyl. Since then, Japan has restarted 14 of the 33 that stay operable, because it tries to wean itself off imported fossil fuels. Kashiwazaki-Kariwa would be the first operated by Tokyo Electrical Energy Co. (TEPCO), which ran the doomed Fukushima plant.
“We stay firmly dedicated to by no means repeating such an accident and guaranteeing Niigata residents by no means expertise something comparable,” mentioned TEPCO spokesperson Masakatsu Takata.
If permitted, TEPCO is contemplating reactivating the primary of seven reactors on the plant on Jan. 20, public broadcaster NHK reported. Takata declined to touch upon timing.
Reluctant residents cautious to start out TEPCO earlier this 12 months pledged to inject 100 billion yen ($641 million) into the prefecture over the following 10 years because it sought to win the assist of Niigata residents.
However many locals stay cautious.
A survey revealed by the prefecture in October discovered 60 p.c of residents didn’t suppose circumstances for the restart had been met. Practically 70 p.c have been frightened about TEPCO working the plant. Ayako Oga, 52, settled in Niigata after fleeing the realm across the Fukushima plant in 2011 with 160,000 different evacuees. Her outdated residence was contained in the 20 km irradiated exclusion zone. The farmer and anti-nuclear activist has now joined protests towards what she sees as a brand new risk on her doorstep.
“We all know firsthand the chance of a nuclear accident and can’t dismiss it,” mentioned Oga, including that she nonetheless struggles with post-traumatic stress-like signs from what occurred at Fukushima. Even Niigata Governor Hideyo Hanazumi, who backed the restart final month, hopes that Japan will finally be capable to cut back its reliance on nuclear energy. “I wish to see an period the place we do not have to rely on vitality sources that trigger nervousness,” he mentioned.
Strengthening vitality safety
On Monday, the prefecture’s meeting will solid a vote of confidence on Hanazumi, a de facto poll on his assist for the restart. The vote is seen as the ultimate hurdle earlier than TEPCO restarts the primary reactor, which alone may enhance electrical energy provide to the Tokyo space by 2 p.c, Japan’s commerce ministry has estimated. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who took workplace two months in the past, has backed nuclear restarts to strengthen vitality safety and to counter the price of imported fossil fuels, which account for 60% to 70% of Japan’s electrical energy technology.
A radiation monitoring publish measuring a radiation stage of 0.038 microsievert per hour is seen close to Tokyo Electrical Energy Firm’s Kashiwazaki Kariwa nuclear energy plant, one of many world’s largest nuclear amenities, in Kashiwazaki, Niigata prefecture, Japan, Dec. 21. Reuters-Yonhap
Japan spent 10.7 trillion yen ($68 billion) final 12 months on imported liquefied pure gasoline and coal, a tenth of its whole import prices.
Regardless of its shrinking inhabitants, Japan expects vitality demand to rise over the approaching decade attributable to a increase in power-hungry AI information centres. To satisfy these wants, and its decarbonisation commitments, it has set a goal of doubling the share of nuclear energy in its electrical energy combine to twenty p.c by 2040.
Joshua Ngu, vice chairman for Asia Pacific at consultancy Wooden Mackenzie, mentioned public acceptance of the restart of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, would signify “a vital milestone” in direction of reaching these targets. In July, Kansai Electrical Energy, Japan’s high nuclear energy operator, mentioned it will start conducting surveys for a reactor in western Japan, the primary new unit for the reason that Fukushima catastrophe.
However for Oga, who will be part of protests exterior the Niigata meeting as lawmakers solid their vote on Monday, the nuclear revival is a terrifying reminder of the potential dangers.
“Each information replace concerning the restart — it is like reliving the concern,” she mentioned.
