Japan's first research reactor to restart

A laboratory at a university in Japan will restart its research nuclear reactor, the first ever in the country, in April after meeting safety standards. the media reported on Saturday.

It will be the first research reactor in Japan to go back online under stringent regulations introduced by the government in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident that was triggered after the massive earthquake and tsunami, public broadcaster NHK reported.

Kindai University in Higashi-Osaka said on Friday that the reactor has passed a series of checks by Japan's nuclear regulator.

The Nuclear Regulation Authority gave in-principle approval for the restart of the reactor in May last year.

The university subsequently made further adjustments to protect against fire, tornados and other risks.

The small reactor has a maximum output of just 1 watt, and is used exclusively for academic purposes.

--IANS

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