Japan agrees to Fukushima operator's revival plan
The new plan envisages a restart of two reactors at the station in July
ANKARA
Japan's Trade Ministry has said they will approve a revival plan for the utility responsible for the Fukushima nuclear disaster in response to repairing damage. Tokyo Electric (Tepco) restarting its Kashiwazaki Kariwa nuclear plant to cut fossil fuel costs is a contentious issue strongly opposed by the local governor.
The agreement between the utility, now under government control, and its biggest lenders includes more than $9.6 billion in cost cuts. Most of the public oppose restarts of Japan’s 48 reactors, which are all offline for safety checks.
According to the minstry an earlier plan outlining a revival after its Fukushima plant was hit by a massive earthquake and tsunami in 2011 had to be torn up because it could not restart the site. Japan's Trade Minister Toshimitsu Motegi is scheduled to meet Tepco president to officially approve the proposal.
Opposition to atomic power remains strong and is set to become a major issue in next month's local elections. Most of the public oppose the restarts of Japan’s 48 reactors, which are all offline for safety checks.
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