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Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki indicated that restarting the Tomari nuclear power plant is now viewed as a practical possibility, following regulatory approval and ongoing assessments. He said he would reach a final decision after site inspections and consultations with nearby municipalities. The plant's No. 3 reactor, inactive since 2012, recently cleared its safety review after a 12-year process. Hokkaido Electric is also preparing additional safety infrastructure, including a seawall scheduled for completion in March 2027. The move aligns with Japan's broader efforts to stabilise energy supply, similar to the partial restart recently permitted at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant in Niigata.
Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki said during a regional assembly session that the restart of Hokkaido Electric Power Co.'s Tomari nuclear power plant is being viewed as a practical option at this stage. His stance follows a series of developments that have moved the long-delayed restart process forward. Advertisement
He noted that a final decision will be made only after he completes on-site inspections at the Tomari facility and gathers opinions from communities surrounding the plant. This approach reflects the regional government's focus on verifying safety measures and local concerns before moving ahead.
Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority had approved the safety review of Tomari's 912-megawatt No. 3 reactor earlier in the year, marking the last regulatory step needed for a restart. The review process spanned 12 years, largely due to strengthened national safety requirements introduced after the Fukushima Daiichi accident.
Suzuki said the combination of regulatory approval, the government's updated emergency response framework, and the likelihood of reduced electricity prices makes the use of nuclear power a realistic option for now. He added that his final decision will consider both technical assessments and discussions held during the assembly.
The No. 3 reactor has remained offline since 2012. In preparation for a potential restart, Hokkaido Electric plans to finish constructing a seawall by March 2027, with an aim to bring the unit back online as soon as conditions allow.
In a related development, Niigata Governor Hideyo Hanazumi recently approved a partial restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power, indicating broader movement on nuclear restarts across Japan.
Source: Reuters
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