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Japan restarts first nuclear power plant since Fukushima | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Japan has restarted its first nuclear reactor under new safety rules after the 2011 Fukushima disaster. | |
All Japan's nuclear plants were gradually shut down after a series of meltdowns at the Fukushima plant. | All Japan's nuclear plants were gradually shut down after a series of meltdowns at the Fukushima plant. |
But after passing stringent new safety tests, Kyushu Electric Power restarted the number one reactor at its Sendai plant on Tuesday morning. | |
Japanese power operators have applied to restart 25 reactors, despite strong public opposition. | Japanese power operators have applied to restart 25 reactors, despite strong public opposition. |
The disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi plant was triggered by a massive earthquake and tsunami. | The disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi plant was triggered by a massive earthquake and tsunami. |
Kyushu said reactor No.1 at Sendai began operating again at 10:30 local time (01:30 GMT). | |
The number one reactor is expected to start generating power by Friday and reach full capacity some time next month. | |
Safety first | |
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday that the government wanted to press ahead with restarting reactors after they had passed "the world's toughest safety screening". | Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday that the government wanted to press ahead with restarting reactors after they had passed "the world's toughest safety screening". |
"I would like Kyushu Electric to put safety first and take utmost precautions for the restart," he said. | "I would like Kyushu Electric to put safety first and take utmost precautions for the restart," he said. |
The government has said Japan needs nuclear power to cut huge energy import bills and to cut Japan's growing CO2 emissions. | The government has said Japan needs nuclear power to cut huge energy import bills and to cut Japan's growing CO2 emissions. |
The BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Tokyo says that more than $100m (£64m) has been spent on fitting new safety systems at the Sendai plant. | |
However, experts have warned that reactors left idle for years tend to experience teething problems and they say such a mass restart of dormant reactors has never been attempted before, our correspondent adds. | However, experts have warned that reactors left idle for years tend to experience teething problems and they say such a mass restart of dormant reactors has never been attempted before, our correspondent adds. |
Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority approved two reactors at the Sendai pant last September under stricter safety rules. The second reactor is due to be restarted in October. | Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority approved two reactors at the Sendai pant last September under stricter safety rules. The second reactor is due to be restarted in October. |
Despite the government's plans, there is strong public resistance to restarting nuclear power plants and protest were staged outside the Sendai plant on Monday and Tuesday. | |
Local residents say they are worried about potential dangers from active volcanoes in the region. | Local residents say they are worried about potential dangers from active volcanoes in the region. |
Protesters were rallied by Naoto Kan, prime minister at the time of the Fukushima crisis, who told the crowd: "We don't need nuclear plants." | Protesters were rallied by Naoto Kan, prime minister at the time of the Fukushima crisis, who told the crowd: "We don't need nuclear plants." |
He said the Fukushima disaster had "exposed the myth of safe and cheap nuclear power, which turned out to be dangerous and expensive". | He said the Fukushima disaster had "exposed the myth of safe and cheap nuclear power, which turned out to be dangerous and expensive". |
One of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded struck off the coast of Japan in March 2011, triggering a huge tsunami. Almost 16,000 people died and more than 2,500 are still listed as missing. | One of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded struck off the coast of Japan in March 2011, triggering a huge tsunami. Almost 16,000 people died and more than 2,500 are still listed as missing. |
None of the deaths, however, has been linked to the nuclear disaster, although there were a number of fatalities in the subsequent evacuation. | None of the deaths, however, has been linked to the nuclear disaster, although there were a number of fatalities in the subsequent evacuation. |