On December 22, 2025, Japan took a pivotal step by allowing the largest nuclear power plant globally to resume operations. This decision was backed by the Niigata Prefecture Council and represents a crucial moment in the nation's return to nuclear energy nearly 15 years after the Fukushima disaster. According to Reuters,
on Monday, the Niigata Prefectural Assembly expressed confidence in Governor Hideo Hanazumi, who last month supported the plant's restart, effectively paving the way for its relaunch.
Following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster on March 11, 2011, which became the largest nuclear catastrophe since Chernobyl, Japan suspended all 54 reactors.
Since then, Japan has restarted 14 of the 33 operable reactors, aiming to reduce its dependence on imported fossil fuels. The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant will be the first nuclear facility to be operated again by Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO), the operator of the Fukushima disaster.
As per the state broadcaster NHK, TEPCO is considering restarting the first of seven reactors on January 20. The total capacity of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa is 8.2 GW, sufficient to supply electricity to several million households. The planned restart involves bringing one 1.36 GW unit online next year and another similar unit around 2030.
Earlier this year, TEPCO pledged to invest $641 million in the prefecture over the next ten years, attempting to gain local support. However, a survey released in October showed that 60% of residents do not believe the conditions for the restart have been met, and nearly 70% are concerned about TEPCO's ability to operate the plant safely.
Monday's vote was seen as the final hurdle before the first reactor's restart, which, according to the Japanese Ministry of Trade, could increase electricity supply to the Tokyo region by 2%.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaiichi, who took office two months ago, supports nuclear plant restarts to strengthen energy security and reduce costs associated with imported fossil fuels, which account for 60-70% of electricity generation in Japan.