Tokyo Electric Power Company is set to restart a nuclear power plant for the first time in 15 years since the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.
According to local media including the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, the Niigata Prefectural Assembly in central Honshu on the 22nd passed a resolution agreeing with Governor Hanazumi Hideyo's decision to allow Tokyo Electric Power Company's restart. With this, the local consent procedure has been completed.
With the local consent procedure wrapped up, Tokyo Electric Power Company plans to apply to the Nuclear Regulation Authority for equipment inspection confirmation to restart Kashiwazaki Nuclear Power Plant Unit 6 around the 20th of next month.
The Kashiwazaki nuclear plant consists of seven reactors. With a total output of 8,212,000 kW, it is known as the largest single nuclear plant in the world. Only Unit 6 is slated for restart.
Tokyo Electric Power Company has also been pursuing the restart of Unit 7 along with Unit 6. It has already completed a safety review based on the Nuclear Regulation Authority's regulatory standards. However, Unit 7 cannot operate for the time being due to delays in completing anti-terrorism facilities.
This will be the first time that Tokyo Electric Power Company, the operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant at the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake, restarts a reactor. However, Kyodo News reported that the government and Tokyo Electric Power Company may be required to respond to local residents' concerns over safety and evacuation plans.