Japan has reignited the world’s largest nuclear power station, with Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) confirming that the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant in Niigata was restarted today (Monday).

This marks the first significant move towards bringing the colossal site back into operation since Japan halted nuclear power following the 2011 Fukushima disaster. The catastrophe, caused by a massive earthquake and tsunami, resulted in meltdowns at three reactors.

An earlier attempt to restart Niigata in January was short-lived, lasting barely a day before TEPCO shut it down due to an alarm. However, the company now assures that the issue has been resolved.

The alarm had indicated minor changes in electrical current on a single cable – still within the recognised safe range, officials stated at a press conference last week – leading engineers to adjust the alarm settings.

TEPCO is now planning a further comprehensive inspection, with commercial operation scheduled for on or after 18 March if all goes well.

Kashiwazaki-Kariwa houses seven reactors, making it the largest nuclear complex in the world. TEPCO initially attempted to start one unit on 21 January before an automated system forced a halt the next day.

Today’s restart represents a cautious yet pivotal moment in Japan’s return to nuclear power – a nation that once depended substantially on atomic energy before abandoning it almost instantaneously following the Fukushima disaster.

Authorities maintain the argument for nuclear has intensified. Japan aims to dramatically reduce its reliance on imported fossil fuels, achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, and ensure stable electricity supply as energy-intensive artificial intelligence drives up consumption.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, buoyed by a resounding election victory, has placed considerable political support behind nuclear power to “energise” the economy and stabilise the electrical grid.

Japan’s decision arrives as worldwide demand for reliable, low-carbon electricity increases – and as global powers compete over energy security.

Analysts contend that bringing existing nuclear facilities back online can reduce emissions more rapidly than constructing new fossil-fuel power stations and help satisfy soaring electricity requirements from data centres and AI, whilst renewable energy sources continue to expand.