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Japan federal government agrees to procedures to assist restart Tepco's atomic power plant

The Japanese federal government on Friday agreed to take several steps to protect local consent for restarting Tokyo Electric Power's (Tepco). KashiwazakiKariwa nuclear power plant, including reinforcing. evacuation steps in the location.

Tepco has actually been eager to bring the world's biggest nuclear. power plant by generation capacity back online to slash. running costs, but still requires local approval.

Last December, the national nuclear regulator lifted an. operational ban enforced in 2021 on the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant. in northern Japan due to safety breaches, enabling Tepco to work. towards gaining regional permission to restart.

On Friday, numerous ministers consisting of the market and land. ministers held a conference and consented to establish a new structure. focused on assisting bringing the plant back online, the federal government. authorities informed reporters.

The brand-new structure will include the market and land. ministries and the Cabinet Office working with Niigata. Prefecture, where the plant is located, to discuss the information. of procedures and how to implement them.

In addition to boosting evacuation routes for citizens in. the event of a nuclear disaster, the federal government will also. heighten snow elimination systems and establish radiation-proof. centers for homeowners, the authorities said, citing that those. measures showed demands from the Niigata Prefecture's. governor.

The government will likewise release a publicity project throughout. numerous media to inform locals about the importance of the. plant to electrical power supply, they included.

It will also monitor Tepco's setting up of a framework to. enhance governance of the plant, possibly including. foreign experts and other utilities, the ministers said.

The Government's policy is to proceed with restarting. reactors that adhere to the new regulatory requirements, while. gaining regional understanding, said Shusaku Kichise, director of. atomic energy policy planning division at the Ministry of. Economy, Trade and Market.

Tepco needs consent from the prefecture's guv to resume. operations. In March, the governor said that more talks were. needed over the possible reboot of the plant.

Japan has actually been able to reboot just 12 reactors because 2011,. with many operators still going through a re-licensing procedure. to adhere to more stringent safety standards enforced after the 2011. Fukushima disaster.

(source: Reuters)