Japan regional governor to approve restart of nuclear power plant

A Japanese regional governor said on Friday he would allow a partial restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, the world's biggest, as Japan tries to revive its nuclear sector and reduce fossil fuel imports.



Approval by Niigata Prefecture Governor Hideyo Hanazumi will remove the last major hurdle for plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) to go ahead with plans to restart one or two of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa's biggest reactors.



Hanazumi will still need to seek the prefectural assembly's vote of confidence on his decision during its regular session beginning on December 2.



A restart would be the first for TEPCO since the March 2011 tsunami destroyed its Fukushima Daiichi power plant. It would also be a breakthrough for Japan, which after the disaster shut all 54 nuclear reactors in operation at the time, leaving it heavily reliant on fossil fuel imports vulnerable to production shocks and supply disruptions.



Niigata residents remain divided between those supporting the restart and those opposing it, Hanazumi said, adding that providing accurate information about safety measures should help to raise awareness among those living in the area.