PenInfo Desk: Japan has restarted a nuclear reactor at the Onagawa plant after a massive 2011 earthquake and tsunami led to damage at nearby Fukushima nuclear power plant.
Tuesday (October 29) power station authority declared that “It is our pleasure to announce that the reactor startup at the Onagawa Nuclear Power Station Unit 2 (BWR, 825MW) had begun today, at 19:00 (Japan Standard Time).” TOHOKU
Authority also announce that the plant is expected to generate electricity and be connected to the grid in early November 2024. Meanwhile, various inspections and preparation works will be conducted towards its operation. We will put our best effort in operating each process carefully and accordingly. In parallel, we will courteously continue to engage with the local communities to build and strengthen trust.
This is when the `reactor mode switch` at the Main Control Room of the plant is activated from `Fuel Loading` to `Startup` mode.
Chief Executive Officer Kojiro Higuchi said, “It is my pleasure to finally announce the startup of Onagawa Nuclear Power Station Unit 2 after 13 years of long-term shutdown. We have been conducting various inspections and works diligently, putting safety as our utmost priority.”
Spokesperson said that the restart of this plant will bring an epic to further enhance the reconstruction of the Tohoku region following the earthquake. Additionally, this restart will provide great significance from the perspectives of both Carbon neutrality and the stable supply of electricity. We will continue to strengthen in building trust with the local residents and the stakeholders based on gratitude and appreciation for the Tohoku region.
Onagawa Nuclear Power Station was the closest Nuclear Power Station to the epicenter of March 11, 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, and it will be the first BWR to restart in Japan since then.
Peninfo/desk/29.10.24/11.03pm