JIJI PRESS/AFP/Getty Images(TOKYO) — Japan’s first nuclear reactor to be restarted since the Fukushima disaster in 2011 was started up under new safety rules on Tuesday.
Kyushu Electric Power Company reported the startup of the Sendai Nuclear Power Unit Tuesday morning, calling it “one of the important steps on the restart process of the nuclear reactor.” After the radiation leak at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in 2011, Japan gradually shut down all of its nuclear facilities.
BBC News reports that 25 plants have applied to be restarted, but all face legal obstacls from locals.
“We will continue to make sincerely an all-out effort to deal with the Nuclear Regulation Authority’s inspections,” Kyushu Electric President Michiaki Uriu said in a statement, “and carry out carefully remaining process, putting utmost priority to safety, with a sense of alertness more than ever.”
The Sendai plant is expected to begin generating electricity again on Friday. At that point, Kyushu plans to gradullay increase energy output. Normal operation should begin in September, the company anticipates.
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