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Japan has taken its first steps toward building a new nuclear reactor for the first time since the Fukushima disaster in 2011, with Kansai Electric Power announcing on Tuesday that it will begin a geological survey to assess the feasibility of constructing a replacement plant for its ageing Mihama facility.
The move signals a cautious but significant shift in Japan’s nuclear energy landscape, 14 years after a devastating earthquake and tsunami triggered a meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi power station, prompting the shutdown of all nuclear reactors nationwide and fuelling deep public distrust.
Despite lingering concerns, the Japanese government has consistently promoted nuclear power as a vital component of its energy strategy — both for energy security and in its pursuit of carbon neutrality by 2050. Recent opinion polls suggest public opposition to nuclear energy has softened over time, especially as energy demands rise.
Kansai Electric’s president, Nozomu Mori, said the survey marks the first step in reviving a long-stalled plan, initially shelved following the Fukushima disaster. Speaking at a press conference, Mori stressed the importance of nuclear energy, given Japan’s limited domestic natural resources, but did not specify when construction might commence.
The Mihama nuclear facility, located in Fukui Prefecture, once housed three reactors. Two were decommissioned in 2015 after more than five decades in operation. The remaining reactor, also nearing its 50-year mark, is still active.
Japanese media report that a new reactor could cost up to one trillion yen (approximately £5.3 billion) and may take as long as 20 years to complete. The plan is backed by both the government and large corporations, who argue that nuclear energy will be crucial in meeting the growing electricity demands of future technologies such as artificial intelligence and data centres.
