First Japan Reactor Set for Full Restart Since Fukushima Disaster
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The governor of Hokkaido prefecture approved Wednesday the first reopening of commercial operations at an atomic reactor since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in March, NHK World reported.
The governor, Harumi Takahashi, approved Hokkaido Electric Power Co.'s request to resume operations at its No. 3 reactor in the northern Japanese prefecture.
The reactor resumed full commercial operations at 3:00am ET, after receiving the go-ahead from Takahashi.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Almost three quarters of Japan's 54 reactors are currently offline, mainly for safety checks. Many communities are reluctant to approve the reopening of the reactors in the wake of Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami.
The Hokkaido reactor was shut down for regular maintenance in January. It was due to reopen in April, however the reopening was interrupted by the March disaster, Dow Jones Newswires reported.
Operators then had to comply with new safety measures ordered by the government, meaning the reactor has been kept in test mode for five months.