A Japanese power company unveiled plans for the country’s first nuclear reactor since the 2011 Fukushima meltdown.
The earthquake and ensuing tsunami that year killed around 18,000 people, and severely damaged a nuclear plant, leading Tokyo to shut down almost all the country’s reactors. But since 2022, Japan — facing high energy costs and dependent on overseas imports — has U-turned, reactivating 14 plants.
Public opinion on nuclear power has also shifted. Kansai Electric Power will begin a survey on a site in the country’s south, although it may take years to complete. The government wants to boost nuclear power generation to 20% of Japan’s total electricity mix, more than double what it is now but still short of nuclear’s 30% level pre-Fukushima.
