Japan restarts nuclear reactor despite backlash

Japan ramped up reactor three, at the Ohi nuclear power plant, to full power this week, despite huge protests and a damning government-commissioned report into the Fukushima disaster

Kansai Electric Power Company (Kepco) restarted the Ohi nuclear unit last week, the first to be switched on since last March’s Fukushima Daiichi meltdown, and confirmed it hit full power on 9 July. The utility, which is responsible for power generation in central Japan, also plans to restart Ohi reactor four. The plant should reach full capacity on 25 July. "We will make continuous efforts to operate (reactor three) safely, and carefully proceed with the reactivation of (reactor four), giving priority to safety," Kepco president, Makoto Yagi, said. The government also lowered power-saving targets in the Kansai region to 10% from 15% after reactor three’s restart, with the forecast electricit