Japan has suspended operations at the world's largest nuclear power plant just hours after restarting a reactor due to an alarm sounding.
Foreign news agencies reported on 22 Jan 2026 that Tokyo Electric Power Company, or Tepco, the operator of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant, halted operations at the plant just hours after restarting a reactor.
Tepco spokesperson Takashi Kobayashi said an alarm sounded during the startup of reactor number 6 at this world's largest nuclear power plant. However, he emphasized that the reactor remained "stable with no radiation impact outside."
Reactor number 6 restarted on Wednesday, one day later than planned due to a malfunction in the alarm system. Local residents remain concerned about safety. This reactor is the first at the plant to be reactivated since the Fukushima disaster in 2011.
Japan had shut down all 54 of its reactors following a magnitude 9.0 earthquake that caused a meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi plant 15 years ago, triggering one of the worst nuclear disasters in world history.
Mr. Kobayashi added that Tepco is currently investigating the cause of the incident and has not specified when operations will resume.
Reactor number 7 at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa is not expected to restart until 2030, while five other reactors may be decommissioned, significantly reducing the plant's power output compared to the past.
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Source:bbc