Japan Reopens a Nuclear Reactor That Was Affected by the Fukushima Accident. It’s the First of 33 in the Whole Country

Nuclear energy is gaining traction among major technology companies. In Japan, there’s a push to regain control of this energy source by reactivating old reactors that were affected by the Fukushima disaster in 2011.

Restarting a nuclear reactor. On Oct. 29, the Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant in Northeastern Honshu, Japan’s main island, resumed operations at its Unit 2 reactor. This reactor has a capacity of 825 MW and is set to begin producing power on Nov. 7.

Tohoku Electric Power Co., the company responsible for the plant, has reactivated the nuclear reactor, which is the first boiling water reactor to return to service. This model is of the same type as the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant and has remained inactive until now.

The nuclear promise. Prior to the nuclear accident in 2011, Japan generated 30% of its electricity from nuclear power and aimed to increase this percentage. Ten years later, out of 54 reactors, only 42 were operational. However, the actual data revealed that only nine reactors in five power plants were functioning, while a total of 24 reactors were undergoing decommissioning.

In any case, Japan is currently working on reactivating its nuclear power capabilities and is implementing modifications to enhance its nuclear infrastructure in response to natural disasters. Japan’s energy targets by 2030 aim to restart at least 33 reactors.

Safety measures. The investment in reactor safety has reached just over $3.7 billion. Among the various measures the country is taking, there’s a particular focus on strengthening infrastructure to withstand earthquakes.

A Japanese company has submitted an application to the Nuclear Regulatory Authority, requesting a mandatory safety assessment for the reactor prior to its reactivation.

Concerns following the accident. Although no reactors were found flooded at the Onagawa nuclear power plant after the 2011 disaster, a thousand cracks were detected in Reactor No. 2. Additionally, the plant is situated in a difficult-to-access area on the Oshika Peninsula, where several evacuation routes were rendered unusable after the nuclear accident. Local residents fear that a similar incident could occur again. However, authorities have developed an emergency plan and are planning the construction of a bridge to connect to the mainland for improved safety.

Is there qualified personnel? Following the nuclear disaster, interest in nuclear careers has declined. National trends indicate a shortage of experienced technical staff. For instance, at the Onagawa plant, 51 out of 140 employees had no prior experience. Nevertheless, both the Japanese government and private companies are seeking ways to revitalize interest in the field.

Nuclear plant reactivation. The reactivation of the Onagawa plant brings the total number of active reactors in Japan to 13, with a combined capacity of 12,433 MW. The country is currently exploring methods to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and liquefied natural gas.

Nuclear power. The growing demand for nuclear power is driving the need for AI semiconductor plants and data centers. By 2050, the Japanese government aims to increase its power production to 1.5 million kWh to ensure a reliable supply for the technology sector.

Image | Fumiaki Hayashi | Dasha Urvachova | IAEA

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