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Japan Restarts Reactor, Lifting 2-Year Ban on Nuclear Power Japan Restarts Reactor, Lifting 2-Year Ban Prompted by Fukushima Accident
(about 7 hours later)
TOKYO — Japan took a decisive step on Tuesday toward ending a two-year freeze on the use of nuclear power, as an electric utility restarted one of the dozens of reactors in the country that were taken offline after meltdowns at a plant in Fukushima in 2011.TOKYO — Japan took a decisive step on Tuesday toward ending a two-year freeze on the use of nuclear power, as an electric utility restarted one of the dozens of reactors in the country that were taken offline after meltdowns at a plant in Fukushima in 2011.
The reactor at the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant, in Kagoshima prefecture, is the first to return to service since government regulators introduced upgraded safety standards in 2013. Most of Japan’s 48 operable commercial nuclear reactors were shut down soon after the Fukushima accident, and none have operated since 2013.The reactor at the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant, in Kagoshima prefecture, is the first to return to service since government regulators introduced upgraded safety standards in 2013. Most of Japan’s 48 operable commercial nuclear reactors were shut down soon after the Fukushima accident, and none have operated since 2013.
The issue of whether Japan should again join the ranks of nations that use nuclear power is a highly contentious one here. The government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe supports restarting idled reactors that meet the new enhanced safety standards, arguing that Japan’s economy depends on the low-cost power they provide.The issue of whether Japan should again join the ranks of nations that use nuclear power is a highly contentious one here. The government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe supports restarting idled reactors that meet the new enhanced safety standards, arguing that Japan’s economy depends on the low-cost power they provide.
Japan has few domestic energy sources, and the country imports virtually all the fossil fuels it uses to power its cars, homes and factories. Electricity prices in Japan have increased by 20 percent or more since the Fukushima disaster, squeezing households and businesses.Japan has few domestic energy sources, and the country imports virtually all the fossil fuels it uses to power its cars, homes and factories. Electricity prices in Japan have increased by 20 percent or more since the Fukushima disaster, squeezing households and businesses.
The public remains skeptical about the plants’ safety, however, with surveys showing a majority favor closing the idled plants permanently.The public remains skeptical about the plants’ safety, however, with surveys showing a majority favor closing the idled plants permanently.
Plans to restart Sendai and other reactors have been in place since the new safety regulations were introduced more than two years ago, but they have been slowed by political and technical obstacles. The plants need to be retrofitted with new ventilation systems and other protections, and the operators require the approval of local political leaders to switch them back on. The Sendai plant was declared safe by regulators nearly a year ago, in September 2014.Plans to restart Sendai and other reactors have been in place since the new safety regulations were introduced more than two years ago, but they have been slowed by political and technical obstacles. The plants need to be retrofitted with new ventilation systems and other protections, and the operators require the approval of local political leaders to switch them back on. The Sendai plant was declared safe by regulators nearly a year ago, in September 2014.
The utility that owns the plant, Kyushu Electric Power, said it removed control rods from the core of the reactor at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, initiating the atomic reaction that will eventually produce electricity. It plans to start producing and transmitting electricity for its customers next month.The utility that owns the plant, Kyushu Electric Power, said it removed control rods from the core of the reactor at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, initiating the atomic reaction that will eventually produce electricity. It plans to start producing and transmitting electricity for its customers next month.
The national broadcaster NHK aired video of workers in the plant’s control room as they restarted the reactor. Tomomitsu Sakata, a spokesman for Kyushu Electric Power, said the reactor had been put back online without any problems.The national broadcaster NHK aired video of workers in the plant’s control room as they restarted the reactor. Tomomitsu Sakata, a spokesman for Kyushu Electric Power, said the reactor had been put back online without any problems.
Dozens of protesters, including a former prime minister, gathered outside the plant as the police stood guard.Dozens of protesters, including a former prime minister, gathered outside the plant as the police stood guard.