Japan authorises reactivation of two nuclear reactors

Tokyo, Feb 12 (IANS/EFE) Japanese authorities Thursday granted clearance to two more nuclear reactors which were not in use since the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.

The disaster took place March 11, 2011 when the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant was hit by a tsunami triggered by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake, resulting in a meltdown of three of its six nuclear reactors.

Some 300,000 people were evacuated from the area.

Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) said reactors three and four at the Takahama plant, located on the Sea of Japan coast in Fukui prefecture, met with the necessary security requirements for reactivation.

The power plant, operated by Kansai Electric Power, is the second to receive the green light after having complied with the new norms imposed in the aftermath of the disaster.

In September, the Sendai power plant in southwestern Kyushu island was the first to get NRA approval. Two of its reactors are expected to begin functioning in the next few months.

As for the Takahama plant, the reactors are not expected to resume operations until this summer owing to several pending requirements such as approval from authorities in the region where residents are known to have reservations about nuclear energy.

New security norms were introduced by the authorities in July 2013 to ensure greater security after the disaster.

After the incident, 54 commercial reactors, including six in Fukushima, were shut down due to security concerns.

--IANS/EFE

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