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
Also in this section
9 January 2026
A shift in perspective is needed on the carbon challenge, the success of which will determine the speed and extent of emissions cuts and how industries adapt to the new environment
2 January 2026
This year may be a defining one for carbon capture, utilisation and storage in the US, despite the institutional uncertainty
23 December 2025
Legislative reform in Germany sets the stage for commercial carbon capture and transport at a national level, while the UK has already seen financial close on major CCS clusters
15 December 2025
Net zero is not the problem for the UK’s power system. The real issue is with an outdated market design in desperate need of modernisation
