Summary
Japan stopped the restart of a reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant, the world's largest, just a day after it began due to a technical problem. Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) said there was no safety threat and the reactor was stable as they paused operations to investigate the issue with control rods. Japan is looking to revive nuclear energy to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and meet carbon neutrality goals.
Key Facts
- The reactor at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant was restarted but halted due to a control rod issue.
- TEPCO, which also manages the damaged Fukushima plant, oversees this operation.
- The reactor was stable, and there was no outside radioactive impact from the glitch.
- Control rods help manage nuclear fission by controlling the nuclear chain reaction.
- The plant is the largest by potential capacity, with plans to restart more reactors.
- Japan wants to increase nuclear energy use to lower fossil fuel reliance and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
- Public opinion in Niigata is split on restarting the reactor, with 60% opposed.
