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The country is nearing approving the resumption of the world's largest atomic energy station—marking the initial occasion it would be operated since the 2011 Fukushima nuclear incident.

Hideyo Hanazumi, governor of the Niigata region where the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa atomic station is located, said he has given the green light for the limited resumption.

The proposal to restart activities at the plant, operated by utility company Tepco, still needs consent from the regional legislative body and the nation's atomic regulatory agency before it can proceed.

Assuming consent is granted, it would be the initial instance Tepco would be allowed to restart nuclear reactor operations in Japan since its Fukushima station experienced a meltdown after a massive wave.

Regional Citizens Divided on Resumption

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

Hanazumi told a media event on Friday that his determination would be considered in December at a local government meeting, where he would pursue the body's consent.

The authorization would be for the resumption of activities at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant's No 6 reactor, subsequently the Reactor 7.

Background and Corporate Reconstruction Plan

The recommencement of functioning at the station is part of the utility's business reconstruction plan following the Fukushima nuclear disaster, which was resulted from a massive 9.0 quake and massive tsunami.

When the facility's atomic cores were flooded by the surge, it caused radiation to leak out and forced 150,000 people to be evacuated from the region.

The Japanese government mandated all its nuclear power plant reactors to be shut down in that year after the incident. Since then, a number of reactors have been reactivated.

Tepco was mandated to pay huge amounts in damages to those affected and is also funding the station's closure expenditures.

Local Sentiment and Worries

A survey issued by the region in the previous month indicated that half of its residents favored the station's reactivation, while nearly half were against it. It also revealed that almost 70% of residents in the prefecture were concerned about the utility managing the station.

Power Goals and Future

Friday's decision illustrates a interest among various Japanese to advance toward increased use of nuclear power to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, as the country aims for a target of net zero carbon emissions.