Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Restart Nears Approval as Tepco Eyes Early Next Steps

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Asia

---

Image Source: AFP/Yuichi Yamazaki

The governor of the Niigata prefecture is poised to grant preliminary approval this week for the restart of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, the world’s largest nuclear power plant by output, local media reported on Wednesday. If given the green light, the approval would lift a major hurdle for Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) as it seeks to resume operations after a shutdown that followed the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

Citing unnamed sources within the prefecture government, Kyodo News said Governor Hideyo Hanazumi could announce approval as early as Friday to partially resume operations at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, with a formal decision expected to be reviewed by the prefectural assembly when it reconvenes in December. The Nikkei business daily noted that if the assembly backs the move, the governor would respond to a national government request to authorize the restart.

TEPCO plans to bring back online the plant’s two largest units, No. 6 and No. 7, which together can generate about 2,710 megawatts. The facility’s total capacity stands at 8,212 megawatts, and a number of the remaining five units could be decommissioned depending on the restart’s scope.

Earlier in October, TEPCO completed fuel loading checks for Unit No. 6 and confirmed that the primary systems required for startup were functioning properly. The company has also pledged about 100 billion yen (roughly US$644 million) to support local communities and win support for the restart, despite local opposition in some areas.

If approved, the restart aligns with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s objective of increasing nuclear restarts to bolster energy security and reduce LNG imports. Japan’s LNG purchases place it among the world’s top buyers, and officials aim to lower living costs amid global energy volatility.

Industry analyses suggest a partial restoration could dampen LNG demand by reducing reliance on fuel imports. TEPCO has previously indicated that restarting a single reactor at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa could materially improve its annual profitability, reinforcing the economic rationale for accelerated approval and subsequent operations.