First Japanese reactor returns to service after Fukushima

The first nuclear reactor in Japan governed by a new safety framework established following the country’s 2011 tsunami and Fukushima disaster has returned to service.

The No 1 reactor at Kyushu Electric Power’s Sendai nuclear power plant on the southern island of the country was restarted in mid-August.

Despite the Japanese government approving reactors to return to service under new rules from the country’s Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA), local governments vetoed or legally challenged plants in their vicinity. Sendai is one of the first to pass the safety checks and overcome these challenges. 

Despite this, 57% of respondents in a poll from Japan’s Mainichi newspaper opposed the restart of the Sendai plant, and the BBC reported that hundreds of protestors gathered outside when it was brought online.

A total of 25 of Japan’s 43 operable commercial reactors have applied to be restarted, but all are facing legal challenges. The reactors were all gradually taken offline following the disaster, with the last closing in September 2013. All have to comply with the new NRA rules before they can return to service.

Responding to the news, Agneta Rising, Director General of the World Nuclear Association said: ‘This is a hugely important step which sets the country firmly on the path to restoring its trade balance and regaining energy independence, as well as reducing emissions… now the Japanese people need to see their reactors performing efficiently and reliably with operators fully committed to protecting public health and the environment.’

• Worldwide, nuclear power output rose by 1% in 2014 compared to 2013 according to figures from Platts. This is the first annual gain since Fukushima and is driven by new reactors in China and units in France, Russia and Korea running for longer.