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.
The No. 2 reactor was put back online Tuesday and is expected to start generating power in early November, operator Tohoku Electric Power Co. said. This marks the first time the reactor, located just 62 miles north of Fukushima, has been operational since the incident and follows significant safety upgrades.
What Happened to the Reactor
The reactor is one of the three at the Onagawa plant, north of the Fukushima Daiichi plant where three reactors melted following a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami in March 2011, releasing large amounts of radiation.
The Onagawa reactor’s resilience during the 2011 crisis, when a 13-meter tsunami hit but did not disable its critical cooling systems, has positioned it as a symbol of Japan’s ongoing recovery and engineering ingenuity.
In the aftermath of the Fukushima meltdown, Japan decommissioned all 54 of its commercial nuclear reactors for safety reassessments and upgrades. Now, 13 out of the 33 viable reactors have been reactivated, with Onagawa No. 2 being the latest to join.
This photo shows the Onagawa nuclear power plant, operated by Tohoku Electric Power Company, Inc., in Onagawa, northeastern Japan on October 24, 2024. Japan has restarted a nuclear reactor at the Onagawa nuclear power plant…
This photo shows the Onagawa nuclear power plant, operated by Tohoku Electric Power Company, Inc., in Onagawa, northeastern Japan on October 24, 2024. Japan has restarted a nuclear reactor at the Onagawa nuclear power plant after a 2011 earthquake and tsunami damaged the nearby Fukushima nuclear power plant.
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Juntaro Yokoyama/Kyodo News/ AP
Renewing Nuclear Power
President of Tohoku Electric Power, Kojiro Higuchi, noted that the reactor’s restart is a significant step for the local community’s recovery from the disaster, while also contributing to the government’s broader goal to revitalize nuclear power as part of a stable, low-emission energy supply.
Last year, Japan renewed its commitment to nuclear energy, aiming to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Plans include reactivating more closed reactors, extending the operational life of older facilities and developing next-generation reactors.
“Nuclear energy, along with renewables, is an important power source for decarbonization,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said Tuesday. “We will maximize its use while ensuring safety.”
Despite strong government backing, Japan’s shift toward nuclear energy concerns remains as a recent earthquake on Japan’s Noto Peninsula, measuring 7.5 in magnitude, resulted in over 400 fatalities and caused widespread damage to over 100,000 buildings. Although only minor issues were reported at nearby nuclear facilities, the quake reignited public debate over the risks and the preparedness of evacuation protocols for communities near nuclear plants.
What Are the Upgrades to the Reactor?
As part of the Onagawa plant’s recent upgrades, Tohoku Electric introduced new anti-quake measures and constructed a 29-meter high anti-tsunami wall.Yet, with 21 reactors, including six at Fukushima Daiichi, facing decommission due to high upgrade costs, Japan’s nuclear future hinges on balancing safety, energy security and public trust.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.