Japan restarts power transmission at world's largest nuclear plant after 14 years

2026-02-16 - 08:55

Tokyo Electric Power Company achieved a significant milestone Monday, resuming trial power generation and transmission at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant's No. 6 reactor for the first time since March 2012. The development represents TEPCO's first reactor restart since the catastrophic 2011 Fukushima Daiichi meltdown, which triggered a nationwide nuclear shutdown and enduring safety concerns. Operational Timeline and Technical Progress The turbine commenced operation Sunday evening, with electricity transmission following early Monday after confirming no technical abnormalities. During the testing phase, operators will repeatedly disconnect and reconnect the generator while progressively increasing output from 20% to full capacity. The reactor initially restarted January 21 but was temporarily shut down due to an alarm during control rod extraction, resuming operations February 9. Monday's transmission faced a brief delay caused by a malfunctioning neutron-measuring device, highlighting continued technical scrutiny. Nuclear Renaissance Amid Safety Consciousness The No. 6 reactor secured regulatory approval and will begin full-scale commercial transmission March 18, with another unit at the world's largest nuclear facility expected to follow. Despite most Japanese reactors remaining offline due to lingering safety apprehensions, the government is pursuing maximum nuclear utilization as part of decarbonization strategy, restarting only units meeting stringent safety standards. The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa restart marks a pivotal step in Japan's gradual return to nuclear power while maintaining heightened vigilance post-Fukushima.