Japan shuts down world's largest nuclear power plant hours after startup
the world's largest nuclear power plant were halted on Thursday, just hours after one of its reactors was restarted. This shutdown, which comes years after the plant was taken offline following the Fukushima disaster, raises new questions about the technical challenges facing Japan's nuclear sector.
Details of the incident and initial investigations
Takashi Kobayashi, a spokesperson for Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the plant's operator, reported that alarms in the monitoring system sounded during reactor operation, prompting an immediate shutdown as a precautionary measure. The company confirmed that the reactor is currently stable and that no radioactive contamination has been detected. TEPCO stated that an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the alarm and did not specify when operations would resume.
The station was scheduled to resume operations last Tuesday, but a previous technical problem related to the sirens led to a postponement, before the malfunctions recurred and forced another shutdown.
Historical background: The specter of Fukushima is still present
This incident is particularly significant given Japan's painful historical relationship with nuclear power. The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, located in Niigata Prefecture and comprising seven reactors, was shut down as part of Japan's nationwide nuclear power plant shutdown following the triple tragedy of March 2011 (earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster) at the Fukushima Daiichi plant. That disaster not only resulted in immense human and material losses but also fundamentally altered global nuclear energy policy and raised safety standards to unprecedented levels.
Public opinion divided and local challenges
Despite the Niigata prefecture governor's approval last month for the plant's reopening, Japanese public opinion remains deeply divided. Local polls show that nearly 60% of residents oppose the plant's return to operation, compared to only 37% in favor. This opposition was demonstrated by demonstrations organized by dozens of citizens, mostly elderly, who braved the freezing cold to protest in front of the plant, expressing their ongoing fears of a repeat of past disasters.
Strategic importance: Energy and carbon neutrality
Strategically, the Japanese government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, is pushing for a revival of nuclear power for pressing economic and environmental reasons. Tokyo aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and reduce its heavy reliance on costly fossil fuel imports. Furthermore, rapid technological advancements, particularly the enormous demand for electricity to power AI , are placing additional pressure on the need for stable and sustainable energy sources, making the reactivation of nuclear power plants a necessity for policymakers despite public opposition.
