Overview
- Gov. Hideyo Hanazumi said he would approve restarting Units 6 and 7, with Unit 6 prioritized, marking TEPCO’s first restart since the 2011 Fukushima disaster.
- Local consent is not final until the prefectural assembly endorses the move, after which authorities would notify the central government for regulatory action.
- TEPCO completed key checks on Unit 6 in October after fuel loading, and officials say the earliest restart could come within the current fiscal year.
- Industry officials cite energy security and price relief as drivers; Unit 6 alone could improve Tokyo‑area supply by about 2%, and the two units total 2,710 MW.
- Public opinion remains closely split and trust issues persist despite safety upgrades such as a 15‑metre tsunami wall; TEPCO has proposed about ¥100 billion in local economic measures.