Japan's Niigata Prefecture assembly gave the green light on Monday to restart the world's largest nuclear power plant, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, more than a decade after the Fukushima disaster.
The decision, backed by Governor Hideyo Hanazumi's approval last month, officially allows Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) to move forward with the plant's reopening. ⚡⚛️
But the announcement hasn't been smooth sailing. Around 300 protesters gathered outside the prefectural assembly yesterday, holding banners that read "No Nukes" and "We oppose the restart of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa." Their rally highlights ongoing concerns over safety and environmental risks. 🚫
Nuclear energy split opinions across South and Southeast Asia, where rising power demands collide with safety debates. From India to the Philippines, young professionals are asking: can nuclear power meet our energy goals without repeating past mistakes? 🤔
Next steps for TEPCO include final safety checks and regulatory filings before reactors can go live. Whether this move will ease Japan's energy crunch or fuel further opposition remains to be seen.
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Protesters rally as Japan plans to restart Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant
cgtn.com
