Energy-starved Japan will regain nuclear-powered electricity on
Sunday, as the first reactor to be switched on since last year's
Fukushima disaster comes online.
Kansai Electric Power Co.
Ltd. (KEPCO) told CNN Wednesday that the No. 3 reactor at the country's
Ohi Nuclear Power Plant will be activated on July 1 and start providing
electricity to western Japan -- which includes Osaka, Japan's second
biggest city by July 4. Ohi's No. 4 reactor is also scheduled to resume
operations by July 24.
All 50 commercial nuclear
reactors in Japan have been offline since May 5 for safety checks. The
government has been conducting simulation tests for restarting its
nuclear reactors in response to public concerns over their safety in the
wake of the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant last spring.
Before the March 11
disaster, Japan had relied on nuclear energy for about 30% of its
electricity needs, according to government figures.
more Tokyo (CNN)
