Japan’s Niigata region just gave a thumbs-up 👍 to restart the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant, the world’s largest ⚛️, marking a major step 15 years after the 2011 Fukushima disaster.
The prefecture assembly’s vote today (Dec 22) was a confidence check for Governor Hideyo Hanazumi—and now TEPCO plans to fire up the first of seven reactors on Jan 20 if all final green lights go through.
After shutting all 54 reactors post-Fukushima, Japan has brought 14 back online. Ramp-ups like K-K could add about 2% more juice to Tokyo’s grid—a boost that matters when AI data centers in Bangalore, Jakarta, or Manila are hungry for power 💡.
To win local support, TEPCO pledged 100 billion yen (around $640 million) for community projects over the next decade—but many residents still have mixed feelings 🤔.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, in office since October, is keen on nuclear restarts to cut reliance on imported gas and coal, which cost Japan 10.7 trillion yen last year—about a tenth of its total import bill 🌏.
With energy demand set to rise due to booming tech hubs, the government aims to double nuclear’s share to 20% by 2040. Meanwhile, Kansai Electric is surveying plans for a brand-new reactor in western Japan—the first since 2011.
For young pros in South and Southeast Asia, this move shows how established economies are balancing energy security, climate goals, and tech growth—something to watch as we shape a more sustainable future 🔋🌱.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
