TEPCO Halts Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Reactor Restart After Technical Glitch

The wait for Japan's energy revival just got a bit longer. Only a day after initiating the restart of the world's largest nuclear power plant, operations were abruptly suspended due to a critical equipment malfunction.

Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Reactor Restart Suspension Details

Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) announced on January 22, 2026, that it has suspended the restart process of the No. 6 reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant. The suspension came just hours after workers began removing control rods to initiate stable nuclear fission on Wednesday.

The problem lies within the electrical equipment of the control rods—devices essential for regulating the chain reaction. While TEPCO spokesperson Takashi Kobayashi confirmed to AFP that the reactor remains "stable" with no radioactive impact, the utility decided to put the unit back into a full shutdown for a comprehensive examination. The exact duration of this unexpected halt remains unknown.

Japan's Nuclear Ambitions vs. Public Safety

Resource-poor Japan is pivoting back to nuclear energy to meet the massive power demands of artificial intelligence and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The No. 6 reactor alone could power over 1 million households in the Tokyo region, producing 1.35 million kilowatts of electricity.

However, the Fukushima legacy looms large. A September survey showed that 60 percent of local residents oppose the restart. Opponents recently submitted a petition with 40,000 signatures, citing concerns that the facility sits on an active seismic fault zone.