Japan restarted nuclear power after the tsunami

Japan yesterday approved the first nuclear reactor to resume operations after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

The Hokkaido Electric Power Company (Hepco) has officially operated the No. 3 reactor of Tomari nuclear plant, located on the island north of Hokkaido, this morning right after being approved by the government.

According to AFP , the reactor has officially entered the testing phase, although it is operating for several months and producing electricity at full capacity.

Tomari nuclear power plant on Hokkaido island, Japan. (Photo: wikipedia)

Hokkaido prefect, Harumi Takahashi, after a local discussion of the plant's safety criteria, said she did not object when the government announced the completion of a safety test and allowed home re-operation. machine.

The power plant was inspected safely in January and entered a period called "adjustment" since March 7 and has been running since.

About three-quarters of Japan's 54 reactors are closed for inspection. Many residential communities are hesitant about the prospect of restarting nuclear reactors after the accident in Fukushima, despite concerns about energy shortages.

Prime Minister Naoto Kan said the Japanese government will implement a policy of reducing dependence, proceeding to eliminate nuclear energy in the future. But now METI still has to open the reactors to deal with the summer electricity shortage.