Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant: Safety Should Be Highest Priority in Restarting Reactor |
Editorial
17:46 JST, January 23, 2026
Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. restarted the No. 6 reactor at its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata Prefecture for the first time in about 14 years. This was the first time TEPCO resumed operations of a reactor since the Great East Japan Earthquake.
TEPCO must once again take to heart the enormous damage caused by the accident that occurred at its Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant following the earthquake and ensure safe operations of the reactor.
On Wednesday evening, the utility withdrew control rods at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant to activate the reactor. However, the company decided to suspend operations the day after due to a problem.
This is a worrying start. TEPCO cannot be too careful in resuming operations. The company plans to start commercial operation of the reactor on Feb. 26 to supply electricity to the Tokyo metropolitan area. It should........