Newscasts - Japan's regional assembly to vote on restarting nuclear plant

Teco Electric and Machinery Co.,

02/12/2025 15:58

Click the following link to watch video: https://share.newscasts.refinitiv.com/link?entryId=1_ssdt4i45&referenceId=tag:reuters.com,2025:newsml_RW664602122025RP1_K15&pageId=Newscasts
Source: 'Reuters - General news videos'

Description: A Japanese regional assembly on Tuesday (December 2) began deliberations on whether to partially restart the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant, the world's largest, as the nation seeks to bolster its domestic power sources. However, some local residents are concerned about its safety. Vanesse Chan reports.

Short Link: https://lseg.group/3MjyT3I

Video Transcript:

At the world's biggest nuclear power plant, Japanese workers carried out a routine safety drill for business delegation from Tokyo. Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, located on the coast of the Sea of Japan was shut down after the Fukushima disaster in 2011, but with Japan seeking to boost its domestic power sources, a regional assembly on Tuesday began debate on whether to partially restart the plant. Both plants are operated by Tokyo Electric Power Company or TEPCO. A powerful tsunami destroyed the Fukushima Daiichi reactor in March 2011. More than 160,000 residents fled as radiation spewed into the air. Now the peaceful coastal area is gaining attention as the restart of the plant's unit number six would be the first for TEPCO since the disaster. TEPCO President Tomoaki Kobayakawa said the company has been improving safety at its nuclear power business, but Yukihiko Hoshino, a local Kashiwazaki City assembly member said local residents were concerned about the chances of another nuclear accident. The plant is located some 180 miles northeast of Tokyo, in an area that is home to around 80,000 people.

People talk as if the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster is over, but it's still ongoing. The problems haven't been resolved. There are still people who can't return home from the fact that none of this has truly been solved, they've not learned everything from it.

After the Fukushima disaster, Japan shuttered all 54 nuclear reactors in operation at the time, which left it heavily reliant on fossil fuel imports. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has said she supports more nuclear relaunches to strengthen energy security. She also addressed the cost of imported energy, which accounts for 60% to 70% of Japan's electricity generation. The regional Assembly of Niigata is set to vote by the December 22 on whether to restart the nuclear plant.