Japan’s only experimental fast reactor, Joyo, has secured consent from local governments that host it to begin safety construction work necessary for a restart.
This means the reactor, which is currently offline, has practically secured approval for its restart.
Joyo is a small nuclear reactor used to conduct experiments to develop fast reactors that use plutonium extracted from spent nuclear fuel. It is located in Oarai Town, Ibaraki Prefecture, north of Tokyo.
Its operator, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, hopes to put it back online in the second half of fiscal 2026 after completing safety construction work, including measures related to cooling and countering accidents.
The prefecture and the town gave consent over the work on Friday. They said they have confirmed the safety and necessity of the reactor, adding that surrounding municipalities did not voice opposition.
Oarai Mayor Kunii Yutaka handed a document showing the town’s consent to a senior Japan Atomic Energy Agency official at the town office on Friday.
Ibaraki Prefecture has reportedly conveyed its consent via a document already.
The two local governments said under the agreement signed with the operator, no other procedures are necessary for the operator to secure consent from the hosting entities.
The Japan Atomic Energy Agency hopes to use the experimental reactor for research and development of fast reactors.
The Japanese government regards the type of reactors as one of the next-generation nuclear reactors that it plans to put into practical use in the future.
The operator also plans to offer the reactor for use toward the production of radioactive materials for medical purposes.