November 20, 2025 | 06:42 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Japan is preparing to restart parts of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), one of the world's largest electricity-generating facilities, with a total capacity of 8,212 megawatts (MW).
According to a report by Kyodo cited by CNA on Tuesday, November 18, the Niigata Prefecture government is expected to approve the restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa NPP this week. This approval is one of the final steps for Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) to reopen the facility, which has been closed since the 2011 Fukushima disaster.
The decision to reactivate the plant aligns with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's policy of initiating more reactors to strengthen energy security amid rising living costs.
Operating Plan and Facility Readiness
TEPCO is preparing to operate Units No. 6 and No. 7, the two largest reactors in the complex. These units have a total capacity of 2,710 megawatts, which is 33 percent of the complex's overall capacity of 8,212 MW. As quoted from a report by The Japan Times, the company is also considering the option to decommission some of the other five units.
Last October, TEPCO completed the inspection of Reactor No. 6 after refueling. The company stated that the main systems required to start the reactor are operating well. To gain public support, TEPCO has also allocated 100 billion yen for the local community. They emphasized that the support of the local community remains a priority, although controversy still arises as the memory of the Fukushima disaster has not completely faded away.
Revival of Japan's Nuclear Reactors
The partial recovery of these facilities is expected to help reduce the cost of importing liquefied natural gas (LNG). Japan is the world's second-largest LNG importer after China. The Takaichi administration prioritizes stable living costs and reducing energy import dependency as part of its national strategy.
As of the end of October, Japan has reactivated 11 reactors with a combined capacity of 10,647 MW. Before the Fukushima disaster, Japan's electricity utilities operated a total of 54 reactors. Despite the slow revival of the nuclear industry, TEPCO continues to pay substantial compensation for the reactor damage in 2011.
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