In 2007 an earthquake in Japan shut down the world’s largest nuclear power station. Now Kashiwazaki-Kariwa looks set to re-start.

Just after the quake, Nature’s Asia correspondent wrote, “No one died as a result of Japan’s latest nuclear incident and environmental damage seem have been mostly avoided. But is this testimony to successful plant design or a warning of impending disaster?”

The plant’s operator Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) says a host of measures have been implemented at the plant since the 6.8 magnitude quake, but agreement of the leaders of Kashiwazaki and Kariwa is still required before the plant can restart.

According to the Financial Times the plant accounts for 13% of TEPCO’s electricity generating capacity.

A date for a final meeting between the three groups – TEPCO, Kashiwazaki and Kariwa – has yet to be set, but approval for a test run of one of the seven reactors at the site has been given, says AFP.

“We think the safety of the reactor has been confirmed,” says Kashiwazaki Mayor Hiroshi Aida (Japan Times). “We would like to hold a meeting of three parties toward the resumption of the operation.”

However geology professor Masaaki Tateishi told AFP, “There has not been enough discussion in terms of the evaluation of geological faults near the plant, which is essential in defining its quake-resistance strength.”

Image: Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant / TEPCO