Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Plant Restart Suspension: World's Largest Facility Halts Hours After Revival
The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant restart suspension occurred just hours after its revival on January 22, 2026. TEPCO is investigating technical alarms at the world's largest facility.
It took 15 years to flip the switch, but only hours to shut it back down. Japan's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant, the world's largest by installed capacity, has suspended operations following a technical alarm shortly after its long-awaited restart.
Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Plant Restart Suspension: What Went Wrong
Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) reported that an alarm sounded during reactor start-up procedures for Reactor Number Six on Thursday. While TEPCO spokesperson Takashi Kobayashi assured the public that the reactor remains stable with no radioactive leakage, the incident is a significant blow. This was the first reactor at the massive complex to be activated since the 2011Fukushima disaster, which had led to a total shutdown of all 54 reactors across Japan.
Japan's Tightrope Walk Toward Net Zero
Since 2015, Japan has successfully restarted 15 out of its 33 operable reactors as part of its 2050 net-zero emissions goal. However, the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa facility has faced fierce local opposition and persistent safety concerns. Critics point out that despite TEPCO's assurances, the memory of the 150,000 evacuees from 15 years ago still looms large, making any technical glitch a focal point for public distrust.
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