In a significant move to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, Japan and the U.S. are taking steps toward bolstering their nuclear power plants. Japan’s nuclear regulator, the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA), has lifted a two-year operational suspension on Tokyo Electric Power’s Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant. This development brings the world’s largest atomic power plant one step closer to resuming operations.
What Happened: As reported by Reuters on Wednesday, the NRA retracted the ban, initially implemented over safety violations like lack of safeguarding nuclear materials and unauthorized entry into restricted zones of the plant. The watchdog’s decision comes after substantial enhancements were observed in the plant’s safety management system.
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Tokyo Electric Power is eager to reactivate the nuclear facility that has been non-operational since 2012, post the Fukushima catastrophe. However, green signals from local governments of Niigata prefecture, Kashiwazaki city, and Kariwa village are still needed before the plant can resume operations. The approval timeline is yet to be determined.
Japan, which is deficient in resources, is striving to reduce its dependence on imported fossil fuels such as liquefied natural gas (LNG). The Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ) projects a drop in Japan’s LNG imports from an estimated 64 million tons this year to 58.5 million metric tons in the 2024/25 fiscal year. This reduction is partly attributed to the expected restarts of more nuclear reactors.
Why It Matters: This development follows Japan’s decision in August to release treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean has raised eyebrows worldwide, particularly impacting the global seafood market. Countries like China have imposed a total ban on Japanese seafood imports, while others like Hong Kong have applied import restrictions on certain Japanese food items over contamination concerns.
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