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Japan is edging closer to approving the reactivation of the world's largest atomic energy station—marking the initial occasion it would be running since the 2011 Fukushima nuclear incident.

Hideyo Hanazumi, leader of the Niigata area where the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa atomic station is located, announced he has given the green light for the partial restart.

The proposal to resume operations at the plant, run by the Tepco utility firm, still needs consent from the prefecture's government assembly and the nation's atomic regulatory agency before it can advance.

If approved, it would be the first time Tokyo Electric Power would be allowed to resume reactor functioning in Japan since its Fukushima plant went into meltdown following a massive wave.

Local Residents Split on Restart

People living in Niigata are split over whether the facility should resume operations or not.

Hanazumi stated at a news conference on the end of the week that his determination would be debated in the final month of the year at a local government meeting, where he would request the body's consent.

The authorization would be for the recommencement of functioning at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant's No 6 reactor, followed by the No 7.

Background and Business Reconstruction Strategy

The restart of activities at the plant is part of Tepco's company revitalization initiative following the Fukushima meltdown, which was resulted from a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and enormous surge.

When the station's units were flooded by the surge, it caused radiation to leak out and required numerous residents to be moved from the zone.

The Japanese government mandated all its nuclear station cores to be deactivated in that year in the wake of the disaster. Afterward, 14 reactors have resumed operations.

Tepco was instructed to pay trillions of Japanese yen in damages to those impacted and is also paying for the station's closure expenditures.

Local Sentiment and Worries

A survey published by Niigata prefecture recently suggested that 50% of its locals backed the station's reactivation, while nearly half were opposed. It also suggested that almost 70% of people in the area were anxious about Tepco running the plant.

Energy Goals and Future

Friday's decision demonstrates a inclination among some in Japan to move towards greater utilization of nuclear power to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, as the nation aims for a goal of carbon neutrality.