Japan restarts its nuclear reactor 13 years after a massive earthquake

Japan has resumed operation of its nuclear reactor at the Onagawa plant after the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami caused damage to the nearby Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Reactor No. 2 was restarted on Tuesday and is expected to start generating power in early November, the reactor's operator, Tohoku Electric Power Co., said. It is the first time the reactor, located just 62 miles north of Fukushima, has been operational since the accident and comes on the heels of major safety upgrades.

What happened to the reactor?

The reactor is one of three at the Onagawa plant north of the Fukushima Daiichi plant, where three reactors melted down following a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami in March 2011, releasing large amounts of radiation.

The Onagawa reactor's resilience during the 2011 crisis, when a 13-meter tsunami struck but did not knock out critical cooling systems, made it a symbol of Japan's ongoing recovery and engineering ingenuity.

Following the Fukushima disaster, Japan removed all 54 of its commercial nuclear reactors from service for safety re-evaluation and upgrades. Now, 13 of the 33 usable reactors have been reactivated, with Onagawa No. 2 being the last to join.

This photo shows the Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant, operated by Tohoku Electric Power Co., in Onagawa, northeastern Japan on October 24, 2024. Japan has restarted a nuclear reactor at the Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant… This photo shows the Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant, operated by Tohoku Electric Power Co. Tohoku Electric Power, in Onagawa, northeastern Japan on October 24, 2024. Japan restarts a nuclear reactor at the Onagawa nuclear power plant after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami destroyed the nearby Fukushima nuclear power plant. . More from Juntaro Yokoyama/Kyodo News/AP Nuclear Energy Renewal

Tohoku Electric Power Company President Kojiro Higuchi noted that restarting the reactor is an important step for the local community's recovery from the disaster, while also contributing to the government's broader goal of revitalizing nuclear power as part of a stable, low-emission energy supply. .

Last year, Japan renewed its commitment to nuclear energy, with the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Plans include reactivating more closed reactors, extending the operational life of older facilities, and developing next-generation reactors.

“Nuclear energy, along with renewable energy sources, is an important source of energy for decarbonization,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said on Tuesday. “We will maximize its use while ensuring safety.”

Despite strong government support, Japan's shift toward concerns about nuclear power persists as the recent 7.5-magnitude earthquake that struck Japan's Noto Peninsula killed more than 400 people and caused widespread damage to more than 100,000 buildings. Although only minor problems were reported at nearby nuclear facilities, the earthquake reignited public debate about the risks and preparedness of evacuation protocols for communities near nuclear plants.

What are reactor upgrades?

As part of the recent upgrades to the Onagawa station, Tohoku Electric introduced new anti-seismic measures and constructed a 29-meter-high anti-tsunami wall. However, with 21 reactors, including six at Fukushima Daiichi, facing decommissioning due to high modernization costs, Japan has the potential to build a tsunami-proof wall. The nuclear future depends on achieving a balance between safety, energy security and public confidence.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.

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