Japan to restart two nuclear reactors

Japan`s Prime Minister Yoshiko Noda said the restart at the Oi nuclear power plant, in central Fukui prefecture, was necessary to avert power shortages.

Moscow: Japan announced on Saturday it will resume operations at two nuclear reactors, the first to come back online since all the country`s plants were shut down following last year`s Fukushima crisis, the Kyodo news agency reported.

Prime Minister Yoshiko Noda said the restart at the Oi nuclear power plant, in central Fukui prefecture, was necessary to avert power shortages.

It will take up to six weeks to get the reactors fully operational, the plant`s operators said.

Noda made the announcement at a cabinet meeting following the approval of Fukui Governor Issei Nishikawa. Japanese authorities ordered the closure of all of the country`s 50 reactors for maintenance or safety checks after a powerful earthquake and tsunami triggered a meltdown at the Fukushima power plant in March 2011.

Japan relied on nuclear power for about 30 percent of its energy needs before the shutdowns.

The decision to restart the Oi reactors comes amid widespread public concern about nuclear safety. On Friday, hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the prime mister`s office to protest the move.
According to a poll by Mainichi Daily News, over 70 percent of the public opposes restarting the reactors.
IANS