51吃瓜网

SAPPORO – Hokkaido Gov. Naomichi Suzuki has announced his approval for the restart of the No. 3 reactor at Hokkaido Electric Power’s Tomari nuclear power plant.

Suzuki made the announcement Wednesday at a meeting of the Hokkaido Prefectural Assembly. The village of Tomari, which hosts the plant, and three nearby municipalities in Hokkaido have already expressed their approval.

The governor said he would inform the central government of his decision “at the earliest possible time.”

Hokkaido Electric aims to restart the reactor as soon as possible in 2027.

The governor said that behind his approval were Hokkaido Electric’s plan to lower its electricity rates following the restart and his view that ensuring a stable power supply and decarbonizing energy sources would lead to local economic growth.

“I agree with the restart,” he said, noting that he also took into account the opinions of Hokkaido citizens and relevant municipal governments, as well as discussions at the Hokkaido assembly.

Regarding safety and disaster prevention measures at the Tomari plant, the governor said he would urge the government and Hokkaido Electric to make all possible efforts, following a major earthquake that mainly struck Aomori Prefecture on Monday night. In Aomori, the quake measured up to upper 6, the second-highest level on the country’s seismic intensity scale, and, in Hokkaido, up to upper 5, the fourth-highest level.

Later, he told reporters: “Making a decision amid the pros and cons (of the restart) is the responsibility of a politician. I have concluded that using nuclear energy is a realistic option that can be taken for the time being.”

In the run-up to the envisaged restart, Hokkaido Electric plans to take fresh safety measures, such as constructing a new seawall.

Meanwhile, a lawsuit aimed at blocking the restart of the nuclear power plant is ongoing at the Sapporo High Court.

After the Nuclear Regulation Authority concluded in July that the No. 3 reactor complies with new regulatory standards, the government asked the prefectural government of Hokkaido and the four municipalities, including the village of Tomari, in August to understand the reopening.

Tomari and the three municipalities — the towns of Kyowa and Iwanai and the village of Kamoenai — have approved the restart.

Late last month, the governor indicated his support for the restart at a prefectural assembly meeting. He visited the plant last Thursday to check safety measures there.

Suzuki has also met with the heads of the four municipalities, stating, “I will make a final decision based on the municipal leaders’ decisions, which are serious.”