The NRA's decision to lift the order was based on its assessment that the plant has reached a state where autonomous improvement can be expected, meeting the minimum level required for other nuclear plants. However, the regulator will continue to monitor the plant's system to ensure sustained improvements even after the order is lifted.
TEPCO, the plant's operator, completed the necessary examinations for restarting the No. 6 and No. 7 reactors in December 2017. Despite this, several problems were later uncovered, leading to the issuance of a corrective measures order by the NRA in April 2021. The order prohibited the transfer of nuclear fuel within the plant, citing violations of the Nuclear Reactor Regulation Law.
Official inspections and a site survey by the NRA concluded that the identified issues at the plant have been addressed. However, the restart of the plant is contingent upon obtaining local consent, particularly from the Niigata prefectural government.
Niigata Governor Hideyo Hanazumi's stance on the restart remains unclear, and no evacuation plan in the event of a major nuclear accident has been developed. The Kishida administration aims to accelerate the resumption of nuclear plant operations by engaging with local municipalities and offering financial support in the form of grants.
The Nuclear Regulation Authority has decided to lift the order halting operations at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata Prefecture, signaling a significant step toward its restart. The focus now shifts to obtaining local community consent for the restart, which is necessary for the plant to resume operations. The decision to lift the order was made after the plant was assessed to have reached a state where autonomous improvement can be expected, meeting the minimum level required for other nuclear plants. However, the regulator will continue to monitor the plant's system to ensure sustained improvements even after the order is lifted.
TEPCO, the operator of the plant, completed the necessary examinations for restarting the No. 6 and No. 7 reactors in December 2017. However, several problems were subsequently uncovered, leading to the issuance of a corrective measures order by the NRA in April 2021. The order prohibited the transfer of nuclear fuel within the plant, citing violations of the Nuclear Reactor Regulation Law. Official inspections and a site survey by the NRA concluded that the identified issues at the plant have been addressed. Nevertheless, the restart of the plant is contingent upon obtaining local consent, particularly from the Niigata prefectural government. Governor Hideyo Hanazumi's stance on the restart remains unclear, and no evacuation plan in the event of a major nuclear accident has been developed.