TEPCO begins commercial operation of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa No. 6 reactor in Niigata
The Facts
- TEPCO began commercial operation of the No. 6 reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant on April 16.
- The reactor is located at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant in Niigata Prefecture.
- Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority gave approval for commercial operation after final checks or inspections of the reactor.
- This is the first time in about 14 years that a TEPCO-operated reactor has resumed commercial operation.
- The restart to commercial operation was delayed from an initial late-February target by roughly 50 days because of technical issues.
- The No. 6 reactor had been restarted earlier in 2026 before entering commercial operation.
- The reactor is operating at about 1,356 megawatts of electric output.
Context
Why is this restart significant?
It is the first time in about 14 years that a TEPCO-operated reactor has returned to commercial service, making it the company’s first such restart since the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster 毎日新聞,Adnkronos,Japan Times.
What delayed commercial operation?
Sources say the reactor’s move into commercial service was pushed back from a late-February target by about 50 days because of technical issues during the restart process Adnkronos,Japan Times,Independent Global ….
What approvals were needed before commercial operation began?
Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority carried out final checks and issued approval or certification before TEPCO resumed commercial operation of Unit 6 english.news.cn,毎日新聞,Japan Times.
View all 17 sources
Wire services (1)
Independent coverage (16)
About these frames
See this differently than someone you know would? Two ways to keep it going.
The dial works on any URL — paste an article you read elsewhere this week.