The No. 6 reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, the world’s largest, has been shut down only hours after its restart following the 2011 Fukushima disaster. This significant development occurred on Thursday, with Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) reporting a malfunction concerning the control rods essential for safe reactor operation.
The reactor resumed operations on Wednesday night for the first time in 14 years. During the startup process, plant workers successfully began removing neutron-absorbing control rods to initiate stable nuclear fission. However, the operation faced a setback when an alarm prompted the suspension of the startup procedure after 52 of 205 control rods had been withdrawn.
At a news conference, plant chief Takeyuki Inagaki emphasized the decision to halt the reactor was made to prioritize safety. He expressed hope that the control rods could be reinserted later in the day to bring the reactor to a complete shutdown. “The equipment is essential to safe operation, and we will examine it thoroughly,” Inagaki stated, indicating the reactor will remain offline until the cause of the malfunction is determined and necessary measures are taken. He cautioned that resolution may take longer than a couple of days.
The restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant was particularly scrutinized since TEPCO also operates the Fukushima Daiichi plant, which experienced catastrophic failures in 2011 due to an earthquake and subsequent tsunami. Japan is now making efforts to increase reliance on nuclear power to meet growing electricity demands, especially as it lacks substantial natural resources.
The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant has been dormant since 2012, one year after the Fukushima incidents contaminated surrounding areas with radioactive fallout, leaving some regions uninhabitable. TEPCO is engaged in a monumental cleanup operation at the Fukushima site, with costs projected to reach 22 trillion yen (approximately USD 139 billion), all while working to restore its tarnished reputation following the disaster.
While 14 other reactors across Japan have restarted since 2011, the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, located about 220 kilometers (135 miles) northwest of Tokyo, marks TEPCO’s first unit to resume operations. The No. 6 reactor has the potential to deliver an additional 1.35 million kilowatts of electricity, sufficient to power over 1 million households in the Tokyo metropolitan area. However, TEPCO plans to restart only two of the seven reactors over the forthcoming years, reflecting ongoing caution in the industry.
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