(MENAFN) Japanese authorities on Friday approved the restart of the world’s largest nuclear power plant, marking the first such move since the 2011 Fukushima disaster, according to general reports.

The decision applies to Reactor No. 6 at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa facility, which is slated to resume operations in March 2026 following approval from Niigata Governor Hideyo Hanazumi. The plant, which has a total capacity of 8.2 gigawatts across seven reactors, has been offline since 2012 after the Fukushima Daiichi meltdown triggered by a tsunami.

The Japanese government has backed the restart, highlighting nuclear power as a “stable and carbon-free energy source.” Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) called the decision a key component of its operations, noting that revenues from the restart could help compensate those affected by the Fukushima accident.

Following the governor’s approval, local assembly consultation will take place, beginning its monthly session on Dec. 2. If the assembly endorses the project, the central government will be notified that local procedures are complete.

A technical committee in the prefecture reported in February that the plant passed a comprehensive safety review without issues. Currently, only Reactor No. 6 has been prepared for restart, with nuclear fuel already installed. If the process proceeds without delays, the reactor is expected to be operational by the end of March 2026.

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