Fri Nov 21 09:57:15 UTC 2025: ## Japan Approves Restart of World’s Largest Nuclear Plant Post-Fukushima
Tokyo – November 21, 2025 – In a significant move towards energy independence and carbon neutrality, local authorities in Japan have approved the restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant, the world’s largest. This marks the first restart of a plant operated by Fukushima operator Tepco since the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami that led to the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
Hideyo Hanazumi, governor of Niigata province, where the plant is located, announced the approval, which is still pending final authorization from Japan’s nuclear regulator. The decision underscores Japan’s renewed focus on nuclear power to reduce its reliance on costly fossil fuel imports and meet ambitious climate goals, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, a sprawling 400-hectare facility on the Sea of Japan coast, has been fortified with extensive safety measures, including a 15-meter tsunami wall and upgraded power backup systems.
Prior to the 2011 disaster, nuclear power provided about a third of Japan’s electricity. The nation is now aiming to increase nuclear energy to 20% of its energy supply by 2040. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to transition to renewable energy sources while also reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels, which currently account for nearly 70% of Japan’s power generation. Japan is the world’s fifth-largest single-country emitter of carbon dioxide. The Japanese government recently passed legislation allowing nuclear reactors to operate beyond their initial 60-year lifespan. The aim is to make renewables its top power source by 2040.
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